Residents in Pontianak are facing worsening toxic haze and rising respiratory illnesses as Indigenous and civil society groups sue the Indonesian government for gross negligence
in managing annual wildfires. The class action hearing opened Wednesday but was immediately adjourned until October 21 after government defendants failed to appear.
Indigenous Groups Sue for Wildfire Negligence
Legal proceedings began on October 7, 2026, at a district court in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan province. The lawsuit names 10 defendants, including President Prabowo Subianto and the governor of West Kalimantan. Plaintiffs seek to hold the state accountable for the recurring forest and peatland fires that have blanketed the region in hazardous smog.
The plaintiffs—a coalition including the West Kalimantan chapter of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), the local branch of Catholic Youth, Perkumpulan Laman Punyung Indonesia, and individual plaintiff Sisilius Rami—argue the government failed to mitigate predictable ecological risks. They demand the government declare a national disaster to unlock funding for healthcare and rehabilitation.
Judges Adjourn Hearing After No-Show
None of the 10 named defendants attended the opening session, forcing judges to reschedule the hearing for October 21. Plaintiffs’ lawyer Glorio Sanen expressed disappointment, though he acknowledged that the severe haze might have physically prevented travel to the provincial capital.
“We feel sad and regretful about their absence … But on the other hand, we also understand that perhaps this haze condition caused them to be unable to land in Pontianak.”
Glorio Sanen, plaintiffs’ lawyer
Yakobus Kumis, representing an indigenous Dayak group, viewed the absence as a signal that the administration does not prioritize legal compliance. They did not show up. This is a way of the central government teaching the people that violating the law is okay,
Kumis said. The presidential office has not responded to requests for comment.
Respiratory Infections Rise as Smoke Crosses Borders
The Indonesian Health Ministry has documented at least 175,000 respiratory infection cases since August. In Palembang, South Sumatra, health authorities recorded 17,434 cases of acute respiratory tract infections during September alone.
An unusually intense El Niño weather pattern has facilitated land clearing through fire. The smoke has crossed international borders, affecting air quality in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. In Malaysia, resident Muhammad Syahir reported that his daughter’s hospitalization for chest congestion cost him dearly: she was admitted for five days and the cost was almost 10,000 Malaysian ringgit [US$2,444],
he stated.
Government Response to Nationwide Hotspots
The Forestry Ministry reported 1,201 high-confidence hotspots nationwide as of Wednesday, October 7. The government has deployed 61 aircraft, including 44 for water bombing and 17 for patrols and weather modification. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni recently announced plans to expand the forest police force from 4,500 to 70,000 personnel over the next three to four years.
The government has imposed administrative sanctions on 26 corporations and seized assets from 57 others suspected of burning. Galang Suganda of WALHI South Sumatra argued that these fires are identifiable ecological risks
and criticized the current measures as insufficient. Whether this legal action will succeed is unknown, following the dismissal of a similar class action regarding 2015 fires in 2022.