Within the space of a few days, Indonesia flip-flops on whether it would welcome Singapore's assistance to fight the fires causing the haze.
SINGAPORE: Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday (Sep 14) spoke with Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar and reiterated Singapore's offer of help to combat forest fires, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a statement.
The offer came as the number of hotspots in Indonesia's Sumatra island soared to a two-month high of 982 on Monday, and a state of emergency has been declared in Riau province.
Indonesia had earlier accepted the Singapore Armed Forces' offer to send C-130s for cloud seeding and Chinooks for large water buckets to douse fires, only to decline it later.
Indonesia had earlier accepted the Singapore Armed Forces' offer to send C-130s for cloud seeding and Chinooks for large water buckets to douse fires, only to decline it later.
"While the Indonesian authorities accepted our offer of assistance initially, they have since expressed appreciation for the offer, and said they have sufficient resources of their own for now," Singapore's Defence Ministry said on Sunday.
Sept 17 - Indonesia turns down Singapore’s offer to help extinguish forest firesIndonesia has turned down an offer of military assistance from
Singapore to extinguish wildfires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, with thick
haze from the fires also severely affecting air quality in the
city-state.
Last week, Singapore released a statement saying its armed forces were ready to support the Indonesian Military (TNI) in combating the forest fires.
Indonesia’s Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya
Bakar confirmed today (Sept 17) that she had passed up the offer in a
phonecall with her Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan.
“They offered help, but I told them we’re still trying to handle it ourselves,” Dr Bakar said, as quoted by newsportal CNN Indonesia.com.
Source: TODAY http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/indonesia-turns-down-singapores-offer-help-extinguish-forest-fires
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Sept 27 - Singapore should help solve haze issue, not just talk about it: Indonesian V-P Jusuf Kalla
JAKARTA (THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Indonesian government welcomes any country, including Singapore, that wants to help extinguish forest and land fires in the country to remove the haze, Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has said.
"Go ahead, we are open. Singapore can come and see for themselves if they want to help. Don't just talk (about it)," said Mr Kalla on Sunday (Sept 27) in New York, according to a report by the Antara news agency.
Singapore has previously expressed frustration with Indonesia regarding the smog that has affected the country and expressed its willingness help to battle the fires - offers that Indonesia has so far rejected.
Source: ST Online http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/singapore-should-help-solve-haze-issue-not-just-talk-about-it-indonesian-v-p-jusuf
Source: CNA Online http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-reiterates/2125790.html
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Last week, Singapore released a statement saying its armed forces were ready to support the Indonesian Military (TNI) in combating the forest fires.
“They offered help, but I told them we’re still trying to handle it ourselves,” Dr Bakar said, as quoted by newsportal CNN Indonesia.com.
Source: TODAY http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/indonesia-turns-down-singapores-offer-help-extinguish-forest-fires
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Sept 27 - Singapore should help solve haze issue, not just talk about it: Indonesian V-P Jusuf Kalla
JAKARTA (THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Indonesian government welcomes any country, including Singapore, that wants to help extinguish forest and land fires in the country to remove the haze, Vice-President Jusuf Kalla has said.
"Go ahead, we are open. Singapore can come and see for themselves if they want to help. Don't just talk (about it)," said Mr Kalla on Sunday (Sept 27) in New York, according to a report by the Antara news agency.
Singapore has previously expressed frustration with Indonesia regarding the smog that has affected the country and expressed its willingness help to battle the fires - offers that Indonesia has so far rejected.
Source: ST Online http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/singapore-should-help-solve-haze-issue-not-just-talk-about-it-indonesian-v-p-jusuf
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