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Singapore mulls legal action over smog from Indonesia fires | Singapore mulls legal action over smog from Indonesia fires |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Officials in Singapore say they are exploring whether to charge two Singapore-based companies in connection with severe smog triggered by forest fires in Indonesia. | Officials in Singapore say they are exploring whether to charge two Singapore-based companies in connection with severe smog triggered by forest fires in Indonesia. |
The companies own land on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. | The companies own land on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. |
Singapore's foreign minister said he had asked the attorney-general to consider the legal options. | Singapore's foreign minister said he had asked the attorney-general to consider the legal options. |
However, he said it was mainly up to Indonesia to take action against the companies. | However, he said it was mainly up to Indonesia to take action against the companies. |
The firms, Asia Pacific Resources International (April) and Sinar Mas, are headquartered in Singapore but have Indonesian owners. | The firms, Asia Pacific Resources International (April) and Sinar Mas, are headquartered in Singapore but have Indonesian owners. |
"The majority of hotspots in Riau (province) are inside April and Sinar Mas concessions," Indonesian presidential aide Kuntoro Mangkusubroto told Reuters news agency. | "The majority of hotspots in Riau (province) are inside April and Sinar Mas concessions," Indonesian presidential aide Kuntoro Mangkusubroto told Reuters news agency. |
Asia Pacific Resources International has issued a statement to the BBC denying the allegations. | Asia Pacific Resources International has issued a statement to the BBC denying the allegations. |
Pollution has reached record levels in Singapore as a result of the smoky haze, affecting millions of residents. | Pollution has reached record levels in Singapore as a result of the smoky haze, affecting millions of residents. |
Correspondents say the fires come from illegal burning in Sumatra that takes place in the dry season to clear space for palm oil plantations. | Correspondents say the fires come from illegal burning in Sumatra that takes place in the dry season to clear space for palm oil plantations. |
Foreign Minister K Shanmugam also said he would bring up the issue at a meeting of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) taking place in Brunei next week, and he has not ruled out appealing to other international bodies. | Foreign Minister K Shanmugam also said he would bring up the issue at a meeting of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) taking place in Brunei next week, and he has not ruled out appealing to other international bodies. |
A senior official in the Indonesian president's office said fires had been spotted on land owned by 32 companies in the region, some of them based in Malaysia and Singapore. | A senior official in the Indonesian president's office said fires had been spotted on land owned by 32 companies in the region, some of them based in Malaysia and Singapore. |
Schools in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia have closed temporarily. | Schools in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia have closed temporarily. |
Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong warned on Thursday that the haze could remain for weeks. | Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong warned on Thursday that the haze could remain for weeks. |
The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 401 at 12:00 on Friday (04:00 GMT) - the highest in Singapore's history. | The Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit 401 at 12:00 on Friday (04:00 GMT) - the highest in Singapore's history. |
On Saturday at 10:00 local time (02:00 GMT) the PSI was at 326 - a level still considered hazardous. | On Saturday at 10:00 local time (02:00 GMT) the PSI was at 326 - a level still considered hazardous. |