NGOs in Indonesian Borneo have filed a class action lawsuit accusing the government of 'gross negligence' over its management of annual wildfires that have cloaked South-east Asia in toxic haze.
Key facts
- Indigenous and civil society groups filed a class action lawsuit in the Indonesian part of Borneo.
- The suit accuses the government of 'gross negligence' in handling wildfires.
- President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan are among 10 named defendants.
- The case seeks recovery and rehabilitation measures, including covering residents' healthcare costs.
- The fires have shuttered schools and caused a spike in respiratory illnesses.
The Indonesian government has been accused of “gross negligence” in a class action lawsuit over its handling of wildfires that have cloaked large parts of South-east Asia in a toxic haze, according to the Guardian.
The lawsuit was filed by indigenous and civil society groups in the Indonesian part of Borneo. It names President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan among 10 defendants, the Guardian reported.
The case seeks comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures. These would include covering the healthcare costs of residents affected by the fires and the resulting haze.
The wildfires have had wide-ranging consequences across the region. The Guardian reported that the haze has shuttered schools and caused a spike in respiratory illnesses.
The NGOs behind the action are calling for the government to better manage the annual fires, which are a recurring problem in the region. The legal challenge frames the government’s response as inadequate, placing responsibility for the fires’ impact at the highest levels of leadership.
Why it matters
Annual wildfires and the resulting haze are a persistent public health and environmental crisis across South-east Asia, affecting millions of people. This lawsuit seeks to hold the government accountable for managing the fires and compensating affected residents, which could set a precedent for how such disasters are handled.
Frequently asked questions
Who filed the lawsuit against the Indonesian government?
The class action lawsuit was filed by indigenous and civil society groups in the Indonesian part of Borneo, according to the Guardian.
Who are the defendants in the case?
The lawsuit names President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan among 10 defendants.
What does the lawsuit seek?
The case seeks comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures, including covering the healthcare costs of residents affected by the fires and haze.