[Kabar-indonesia] Asean 'cannot solve haze alone'

[Joyo at aol.com]

Bangkok Post
November 6, 2006

Asean 'can't solve haze alone'

Singapore (dpa) - International help is needed to tackle
severe haze from burning Indonesian forests blanketing
South-East Asian countries, Singapore Prime Minister Lee
Hsien Loong said in a published report on Monday.

While meteorologists forecast the worst is over for this
year, they have warned Indonesia's dry spell could be
prolonged by four months in 2007 if the El Nino weather
effect returns.

"To tackle this at its roots, that means before it starts
burning, to prevent the fires from being started, we will
need resources and we need enforcement," The Straits Times
quoted Lee as saying on Sunday.

Farmers, plantation owners and workers have been blamed for
the land-clearing fires during the dry season from June to
August.

The Pollution Standards Index (PSI) has been back in the
healthy and moderate ranges in Singapore since last week. It
hit unhealthy levels, above 100, and once reached 150, the
worst in nine years.

People were warned by environmental officials to stay
indoors and in air conditioned rooms.

The economy was not spared. "If you have haze like this
every year, tourism will be effected," Lee said.

Indonesia has made some headway, Lee acknowledged, citing
the setting aside of funds for efforts to fight the fires
and leasing of two Russian firefighting planes.

Environmental ministers from the Association of South-East
Asian (Asean) nations have formed a committee to oversee
haze fighting measures.

Details of an action plan are expected to be confirmed this
week when Asean environmental ministers meet in Cebu in the
Philippines.

International experts could help solve difficult problems
such as dealing with peat fires and work with the Indonesian
authorities on alternative ways to clear land, said
Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim.

Asean includes Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Thailand, Burma, Indonesia, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia and
Vietnam.

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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