Indonesia environment team threatened with death while investigating forest fires
A group of about 100 men detained seven investigators for about 12 hours and threatened to burn them alive and dump their bodies in a river at an oil palm plantation
Dozens of Indonesian men, suspected of being hired by an oil palm plantation company, threatened to kill environmental investigators checking on fires on Sumatra island, the environment ministry said.
The incident illustrates the difficulties Indonesia faces tackling the illegal burning of vegetation to clear land for palm oil and pulp and paper plantations that causes clouds of smoke every dry season, which at times blanket the region, raising fears for public health and air travel.
The ministry said a group of up to 100 men detained seven investigators for about 12 hours on the weekend and threatened to burn them alive and dump their bodies in a river at an oil palm plantation in Rokan Hulu, Riau province.
The team was following up on satellite images showing “hot spots”, or suspected fires, in a concession of PT Andika Permata Sawit Lestari (APSL) oil palm plantation company.
There were “strong indications” the mob was deployed by the company, the ministry said in a statement.