Sugiono Ensures State Will Secure Future for Families of Fallen Karhutla Volunteers

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Sugiono has confirmed that the state will assume responsibility for the future of the families of 15 volunteers who died while combating forest and land fires (karhutla).

Sugiono stated that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto communicated this commitment while presenting the Pratama Service Star honor.

"The state will take full responsibility for the future of the heirs and families left behind," Sugiono said at Bogor Palace, as quoted from a YouTube video by the Presidential Secretariat, on Saturday (14/11/2026).

According to Sugiono, this governmental responsibility reflects a commitment to its citizens who lost their lives performing humanitarian duties.

"This honor is a manifestation of the state's concern for the sacrifices they made. They have given their best in responding to this significant disaster," he remarked.

The officers and volunteers risked their lives to protect communities and the environment.

"They have demonstrated their dedication and hard work in protecting the citizens in affected areas and safeguarding our forests," he added.

For this reason, Sugiono emphasized that the government will not allow families left behind to face an uncertain future after losing loved ones.

Sugiono mentioned that he received specific directives from Prabowo to ensure that the children of the deceased volunteers would receive educational scholarships.

"He also instructed us, as the Coordinating Minister for PMK, to pay attention to scholarships for all the children of those who have fallen," he stated.

As previously reported, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto awarded the Pratama Service Star to 15 volunteers and officers who died while performing humanitarian duties to extinguish forest and land fires.

During this event, Prabowo also expressed condolences to the families of the fallen volunteers and officers who were fulfilling their humanitarian responsibilities.

"On behalf of the government, the nation, and the state, as well as on behalf of all Indonesian people and myself, I would like to extend my deepest condolences for the sacrifices of the volunteers and officers who are husbands or parents of those present here this afternoon," Prabowo said in a press release received by Kompas.com on Friday.