Jakarta, Nov. 1 -- The Indonesian Islamic Students Association's Central Executive Board (PB HMI) has welcomed police naming 20 companies as suspects in forest and land fires, calling the move an important step toward environmental accountability.

The action demonstrates the police commitment to prosecuting environmental crimes and provides an opportunity to strengthen protection of Indonesia's forests and ecosystems, the organization said.

Herdiansyah Iskandar, PB HMI's deputy secretary-general for strategic policy, said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday that prosecuting companies was essential to ensuring equal treatment under the law.

"However, naming suspects must not end the process. The state must ensure investigations remain...