The Indonesian National Assembly (NA) ratified the ASEAN Agreement onTrans-boundary Haze Pollution, which was signed by the country’sGovernment 12 years ago, on September 16.

Under theratification decision, the Indonesia government will have to enhance itspolicies and measures, mobilise national resources and closelycoordinate with other ASEAN member countries in a bid to deal withforest fires.

Addressing immediately after the striking event,President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, praised the law-making body’srational decision and affirmed that the government always pays attentionto smoke-related issues.

According to some informationsources, annual raging fires in forests in Sumatra Island, Riau andBorneo are fuelled by not only dry weather, but also reckless citizens’clearing-land activities.

Local authorities said many companiesproducing paper and palm oil, including some from Indonesia’sneighbouring Singapore and Malaysia, had destroyed the forests to expandtheir businesses.

Every year, Singapore and Malaysia sufferextremely polluted blanket of smoke generated from forest fires in WestIndonesia, adversely affecting diplomatic relations among the threecountries.-VNA