Indonesia accused of ‘gross negligence’ in wildfires lawsuit as haze tests region

AI Summary

Indigenous and civil society groups in Indonesian Borneo have filed a class action accusing the government of gross negligence in managing recurrent wildfires. The fires create toxic haze across Southeast Asia, disrupt schools and contribute to respiratory illness; plaintiffs seek rehabilitation measures and healthcare-cost coverage.

NGOs in Indonesian Borneo file class action lawsuit calling for government to better manage annual fires and The Indonesian government has been accused of “gross negligence” in a class action lawsuit over its handling of wildfires that have cloaked large parts of South-east Asia in a toxic haze, shuttered schools and caused a spike in respiratory illnesses. The lawsuit, filed by indigenous and civil society groups in the Indonesian part of Borneo, named President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan among 10 defendants. The case seeks comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation measures that would include covering the healthcare costs of residents. Continue reading...