REPUBLIKA.CO.ID,  PEKANBARU -- The Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR) softened on SP3 (order to stop investigation) over forest fire cases after 3.5 hour meeting here on Tuesday.

The Commission said it respects the reasons given by the Riau police chief Brig.Gen. Supriyanto in issuing order to drop cases of 15 companies accused of being involved in big fires destroying forests in that province in 2015.

"The Commission III respects and supports the Riau police in resolving the legal cases of forest fires," deputy chairman of the commission Benny K Harman said here on Tuesday.

The Riau police investigators have full authority in dealing with the legal cases, Benny said after a working meeting with the Riau police chief.

Last week Benny strongly demanded state police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian to give explanation of the SP3 issued by Brig.Gen. Supriyanto.

"The state police chief has to openly give reasons for SP3," Benny said in Jakarta.

He also asked President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to summon the state police chief to explain the decision as the cases have national and international dimensions.

He said the forest fires have destroyed the environment and claimed lives that the public began to raise question as to "why police were that easy to issue SP3."

He said the Commission III would monitor the process of how the cases would be handled.

"Law enforcement must not be firm only when dealing with ordinary members of the community but getting soft when it comes to dealing with those in power," he said.

However, after a 3.5 hour meeting behind closed doors with Gen. Supriyanto, Benny said the Commission III had been given a clear and satisfactory reasons for halting investigations of the forest fire cases involving the 15 companies.

"We were given explanation by the regional police chief. Investigations of cases of four of the 15 companies given SP3, were halted as their licenses have been canceled by the government," he said.

Investigations of cases involving the other 11 companies were stopped on lack of evidence, he said.

Among the members of the Commission III had been quoted as describing the SP3 as full of irregularities.

However, most of the lawmakers including Benny taking part in the closed door meeting in this Riau capital city became soft in their statements.

"Earlier we wanted a hearing with the state police chief but it is no longer necessary," he said, adding the Riau police chief already gave a "remarkable clarification" of the SP3. We respect it," he said.

In 2015, the Riau police handled cases of 18 companies accused of being responsible for forest fires that not only destroyed forest but also sent black haze of thick smoke across the border to neighboring countries.

However, only cases of three -- PT Langgam Inti Hibrindo, PT Palm Lestari Makmur, PT Wahana Subur Sawit -- continued to the court.

The cases of the other 15 companies including PT Bina Duta Laksana, PT Perawang Sukses Perkasa Indonesia, PT Ruas Utama Jaya, PT Suntara Gajah Pati, PT Dexter Perkasa Industri, PT Siak Raya Timber, PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, PT Bukit Raya Pelalawan, PT Hutani Sola Lestari, KUD Bina Jaya Langgam and PT Rimba Lazuardi were dropped.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika