REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Implementation of the ASIAN Games in Indonesia should not be affected by smoke arising from forest and land fires, according to President Joko Widodo. The 18th Asian Games will be organized from Aug 18 to Sept 2 at the Bung Karno Sports Arena of Jakarta and Jakabaring Sport City of Palembang in South Sumatra Province.

"This year, we host the ASIAN Games in Jakarta and Palembang. I remind you to not let the smoke from forest and land fires arise during the implementation of the event," Widodo noted during a briefing to participants of the National Coordination Meeting on Forest and Land Fire Control in 2018 at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He pointed out that smoke from forest and land fires will tarnish the image of Indonesia and disrupt flights during the ASIAN Games. "We have to work hard to ensure that the ASIAN Games run smoothly without any disturbance from forest and land fires," he stated.

Participants at the meeting comprised governors, heads of districts, mayors, commanders of the regional military command, regional police heads, military resort commanders, military district commanders, and resort police heads from areas prone to forest and land fires.

He expressed hope that early detection and prevention efforts would continue to be undertaken, and all related personnel would always remain on standby to extinguish the fires.

"We should act promptly when a big fire or even a small one occurs," he emphasized.

Hence, the president has urged to ensure the readiness and availability of human resources and equipment and also the preparedness of task forces at the provincial, district, sub-district, and village levels.

"In particular, governors and land managers must ensure that their respective work areas are free from forest and land fires and should prepare facilities, infrastructure, and personnel, as well as involve communities to prevent forest and land fires," he stated.

The president also called to take strict and indiscriminate law enforcement measures against the perpetrators of forest and land fires.

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