A class-action lawsuit accusing Indonesian officials of gross negligence in their handling of wildfires began in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on October 7, as smoke from fires in the region affected nearby communities and neighboring countries. The allegation is part of the plaintiffs’ case and has not been established by a court.
The suit names President Prabowo Subianto and the West Kalimantan governor among 10 defendants. Four plaintiffs filed it the previous month, including the West Kalimantan chapter of Indigenous organization AMAN and the local Catholic Youth branch, seeking measures to recover and rehabilitate affected communities, including coverage of healthcare costs.
Opening hearing adjourned
None of the named defendants attended the opening hearing, according to The Guardian. Judges adjourned proceedings until October 21.
The Indonesian government said it respected citizens’ right to take legal action and would address the issues through the court process, ABC News reported. The government’s position qualifies accounts of the defendants’ absence from the hearing: it has publicly addressed the case, though the defendants did not attend that session.
The plaintiffs argue that recurring fires should have been anticipated and that authorities failed to prepare and respond adequately, ABC reported. The court has not ruled on those claims.
Fires and health concerns
The case is unfolding amid fires that started in West Kalimantan in July. Indonesia’s Health Ministry had recorded at least 175,000 respiratory-infection cases linked to fires since August, according to ABC’s October 8 report. That figure reflects the ministry data cited at the time, not a current count.
Smoke also affected areas beyond Indonesia. The Guardian reported haze in neighboring countries and school closures in Malaysia’s Johor state. An Associated Press report published October 2 separately documented severe fires and cross-border haze, providing context for the conditions surrounding the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs are seeking recovery and rehabilitation measures, including healthcare costs, according to The Guardian. The supplied reporting does not detail the full scope or cost of the requested remedies.
Earlier cases are separate
Previous wildfire litigation does not determine the outcome of the West Kalimantan case. The Guardian reported that a similar suit in South Sumatra was dismissed. ABC described the history of a 2016 case in which a favorable trial decision was overturned in 2022. Those proceedings involved separate cases and should not be treated as rulings on the current claims.
The October 21 adjourned date is the next scheduled step identified in the supplied reporting. The available accounts do not establish whether the court will decide the allegations then or what further evidence the parties may present.