Some Indonesian officials maintain that the fires are caused primarily by small farmers and local villagers. In 1997 and 1998, they blamed the El Ni o phenomenon for unusually prolonged dry weather. Even today, many efforts focus on firefighting. Satellite images show, however, that most fires clearly originate from large holdings of plantation and logging land, owned by agribusiness and timber companies. In many cases, they are a way of claiming forest and converting it for more profitable use as plantations.
Dry weather makes things worse.
In these past months, man-made fires and haze have increased, with rain providing only temporary relief. Despite Indonesian decrees against the use of fire to clear land and international principles against causing environmental harm to neighboring countries, little has changed. This is partly because Indonesia is preoccupied with other pressing concerns. The economic crisis and the political changes since the President Suharto's resignation last year have taken center stage. Jakarta is far from the fires, and winds keep the haze away.