Slash and burn
Indonesia is the world’s largest supplier of palm oil. Plantations cover about 8 million hectares of land and form a key part of the country’s economy.
Much of the demand for palm oil comes from large international corporations, who use the produce to make anything from fast food to shampoo.
But weak law enforcement and alleged corruption has made the industry very difficult to regulate, resulting in few prosecutions.
Police in Riau say they have detained almost thirty people suspected of starting the latest fires, although none of them have been connected to plantation companies.
- See more at: http://www.rtcc.org/2014/03/06/palm-oil-producers-blamed-as-smog-chokes-indonesia/#sthash.KyHtN1ON.dpuf