Commitment Of The Karhutla Alert Prevention Task Force In NTT To Smooth The ASEAN 2023 Summit

Illustration of the Karhutla Prevention Task Force extinguishing forest and land fires. (Ataranews)

Forest and land fires (karhutla) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) during the ASEAN Summit became an anticipation of the government and related stakeholders. Manggala Agni, who is a state civil apparatus (ASN), is in charge of controlling forest and land fires.

A total of two Magala Agni Southeast Sulawesi (Sultra) personnel were deployed to secure forest and land fires from post-finished until the ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, NTT today, Thursday, May 11.

"The BKO of the ASEAN Summit in East Nusa Tenggara is a direct direction and order from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry or the Ministry of Environment and Forestry," said Head of Manggala Agni Daops Sultra Yanuar Fanca Kusuma, Thursday, May 11, as reported by Antara.

He said the two personnel were a woman named Niluh Widhiawati and a man named Ilyas. Both are part of the other 30 people who are members of the Karhutla Prevention Task Force from Kalimantan and Sulawesi.

Fanca explained, while under operational control (BKO) in NTT, Manggala Agni personnel carried out security duties including patrols, socialization, and direct prevention of forest fires.

"The security system there is mobile. So from one island to another meets people in vulnerable areas, socialization is carried out not to burn, then a standby on the Komodo National Park Patrol Vessel," he said.

He said that in carrying out BKO, his party also prepared a number of tools brought from Makassar City, South Sulawesi Province, both manual and mechanical tools for extinguishing.

"The BKO runs for the next few days until May 12, 2023. So the system is mobile and on the equipment ship for forest and land fires control is complete. So hopefully it will run smoothly," said Fanca.

He said, while on duty there, Manggala Agni Southeast Sulawesi personnel joined other teams but were more focused on the joint KLHK Team for security around areas prone to forest and land fires both on the mainland and in the islands.

"So there is a vegetation, the majority of areas prone to fire are savana logs and bushes and there are dry areas, so it needs security BKO," said Fanca.

He hopes that with the BKO and the involvement of other parties in security, the ASEAN Summit can run smoothly and be useful for the nation and state.

"And safety in carrying out its duties is also very important for personnel who are BKO there, to be able to return safely at home. For Nilu Widhiawati herself, the only woman who participated in the Task Force Team," he said.