Pekanbaru, Riau (Antara) - The Riau provincial police have named 40 suspects in the forest and plantations fires across several districts and cities. "All of them have been detained after identifying them as suspects for allegedly setting fires deliberately since the past several weeks," Senior Commissioner Estuning of the Riau police's commander of the plantation fire task force, informed the press on Friday. The suspects were all individuals, she added. "The cases allegedly involving companies are still under investigation," she pointed out. The Riau police that have set up a legal enforcement task force are currently investigating 31 fire cases in Riau, she explained. All suspects are being handled by respective regions such as Bengkalis, Meranti, Rokan Hilir, Siak, Pekanbaru and Dumai City. She pointed out that the number of suspects might increase considering there have been many fire cases occurring in the province. Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered enforcement of laws to prevent and tackle smog caused by forest or land fires especially against corporations to give a deterrent effect. Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono stated here on Thursday that the law enforcement must be carried out quickly and effectively from investigation to trial in court. This is important "to give a deterrent effect especially on corporations not individuals," he informed journalists at the Presidential Office following a cabinet meeting led by the president. Agung added that legal action must be taken against corporations that burn land illegally to clear it for business purposes, as also the landowners, both domestic and foreign. "Law enforcement is important. A total of 41 cases have been dealt with by the police leading to imprisonment from six months to eight years," he added. (*)

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