Suharto Says Indonesia Doing Its Best to Combat Fires
10/4/97
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Headline: Suharto Says Indonesia Doing Its Best to Combat Fires
Source: Agence France-Presse
Date: 10/4/97
Copyright 1997 by Agence France-Presse
JAKARTA, Oct 5 (AFP) - President Suharto made a new
international apology Sunday for thick smog from forest fires that
has spread across several countries, but insisted Indonesia was
doing all it could to combat the blazes.
"We have made whatever efforts we are capable of mobilizing to
overcome this natural disaster," Suharto said in an Armed Forces Day
speech.
"Even though progress has been made, it is estimated that
putting down these fires will still take time."
He said the military had joined civilians and officials in
fighting widespread bush, ground and forest fires. Suharto
instructed the armed forces to further step up their action.
The fires, he said, have caused "quite thick" smoke that has
blanked out the sky and not only harmed Indonesians but also people
from neighbouring countries.
"For this, Indonesia once again expresses its deepest
apologies," Suharto said.
The haze has spread over Malaysia, Singapore and parts of the
Philippines and Thailand. It has caused serious traffic disruption
and is believed to have played a role in Indonesia's worst air crash
which left 234 dead and boat collisions last week which left more
dead.
The smoke has also affected the health of over 40,000 people in
the region. Officials say six Indonesians have died from respiratory
diseases.
Suharto last month made an unprecedented apology to neighbours
hit by the smoke as he addressed environment ministers of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which groups Brunei,
Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam.
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