President Prabowo Subianto instructed his officials and regional governments to remain vigilant and protect the environment, including preventing uncontrolled forest logging.
He delivered the directive before evacuees in Aceh Tamiang District, Aceh Province, during his visit on Friday.
Aceh Tamiang was among the districts affected by flash floods and landslides that struck the region on November 25.
“We must stay alert and safeguard our environment. We cannot allow trees to be cut indiscriminately,” Prabowo said.
A number of experts have estimated that the flash floods and landslides were not only caused by natural phenomena but were also exacerbated by environmental damage resulting from massive forest conversion that has taken place over the last two decades.
The government has sealed and temporarily halted several palm oil and mining operations and suspended roundwood transport in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
This marked President Prabowo’s third visit to Aceh since the disasters struck three Sumatran provinces in late November.
In Aceh, he inspected disaster-response efforts in Aceh Tamiang, then in Takengon, Central Aceh, and was scheduled to inspect a displacement post in Bener Meriah District.
During the visit, he was accompanied by Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, and several ministers, as well as the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander and National Police Chief, among others.
After concluding activities in Bener Meriah, he was scheduled to fly by helicopter to Kualanamu International Airport in North Sumatra.
From Kualanamu, President Prabowo was set to depart for Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta later that day in the evening.
Editor : Abdullah Rifai
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