Singapore and Indonesia Agree to Share Financial Information to Trace Companies’ Responsibility for Haze
Singapore's and Indonesia's foreign ministers both identified the people of Sumatra and Kalimantan as the first victims of the haze. With smoke from forest and land fires threatening residents' health, Singapore's Vivian Balakrishnan and Indonesia's Arrmanatha Nasir agreed in Jakarta on October 27 to establish a joint task force to hold companies connected to the fires accountable. They agreed to share information linking burned land with companies registered in another country. Singapore foreign ministry's official transcript, CNA's report on the joint press conference
Nasir proposed the task force and Balakrishnan agreed. According to CNA's account of Nasir's explanation, it will share corporate and financial information, gather evidence across borders and, where possible, pursue asset recovery. Indonesia's Antara news agency likewise reported that cooperation would cover corporate financial flows and cross-border evidence gathering. CNA, Antara
After issuing notices to 10 Indonesian companies, Singapore's National Environment Agency sent notices requesting documents and information to 10 Singapore-registered palm-oil and forestry-related companies on October 23. According to CNA, the requests covered links between affiliated companies in the two countries, the locations of land concessions, and fire-prevention and firefighting measures. Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu had said on October 19 that the agency would also trace corporate relationships across countries, including shareholders, customers and subsidiaries. Investigators aim to establish responsibility by connecting the land producing smoke with its operators and the companies that control or do business with them. CNA's account of the NEA notices, Singapore sustainability and environment ministry transcript, October 19
In CNA's October 26 reporting on the individual companies, those that received the Singapore notices acknowledged receipt, and many said they would cooperate. Some acknowledged fires or hotspots within their operating areas while denying that their operations had caused or worsened the haze. CNA's reporting on companies' statements and responses
Cross-border investigation has long been difficult. On October 12, CNA cited the National Environment Agency as saying investigations into four Indonesian companies connected to the 2015 haze were still ongoing. The agency described difficulties identifying the companies responsible for overseas fires and obtaining evidence across borders. Through the new task force, the two governments are committing to collect the corporate and financial information and on-site evidence needed for that work together. CNA's reporting on the earlier investigations, The task force's information- and evidence-gathering role
The meeting also took place amid continuing friction over gas supplies. Antara reported that the ministers met against the backdrop of reduced Indonesian gas exports to Singapore and a dispute over compliance with contracts. According to CNA, the two countries also agreed to establish direct contacts at ministerial and senior-official levels to address bilateral disagreements. Antara's reporting on the meeting's context, CNA's report on direct-contact arrangements
EEJE Editorial Analysis: The central task is to connect fire sites with corporate financial flows. To address smoke that harms the health of people in both Indonesia and Singapore, the two governments have agreed to pursue accountability by tracing companies and money on both sides of the border together. Singapore foreign minister's official remarks, Report on the Indonesian foreign minister's remarks