Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesia’s government has filed lawsuits against six companies, seeking more than 4.8 trillion IDR (around 366 million USD) in damages, following deadly floods and landslides that claimed over 1,000 lives in Sumatra in 2025.
The companies are accused of causing environmental damage on more than 2,500 hectares, with lawsuits seeking both fines and the costs of ecosystem restoration. The cases were filed in courts in Jakarta and Medan (North Sumatra) on January 16.
Environment Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq said the government firmly uphold “the principle of polluter pays,” adding that “Any company getting profits by damaging the ecosystem must be held fully responsible for restoring it”.
However, the ministry has not released details of specific violations or the full names of the companies involved, providing only their abbreviations.
The Indonesia media reported that the ministry is also conducting environmental audits on more than 100 companies operating in the provinces of North Sumatra, West Sumatra and Aceh, quoting Nurofiq as saying that potential criminal suspects will be identified after the audits are completed.
Separately, a task force comprised of the military, police, Attorney General’s Office, and ministries has identified 12 companies suspected of contributing to flash floods and landslides in Sumatra.
Environmental advocates said that the lawsuits represent only a “minimalist” moves.
Greenpeace Indonesia stressed that that beyond the impacts of climate change, deforestation and land degradation caused by corporate activities are the root causes that made the floods so catastrophic. It also called on Indonesian authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of all permits for logging, industrial plantations, and mining activities.
Mining, plantations, and fires have caused the clearance of large tracts of lush Indonesian rainforest over recent decades. More than 240,000 hectares of primary forest were lost in 2024, according to analysis by conservation start-up The TreeMap’s Nusantara Atlas project.
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said last month that the government will revoke 22 forestry permits across the Southeast Asian country, including permits that encompass more than 100,000 hectares in Sumatra./.
