Jakarta, Aug. 24 -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has reiterated a strict ban on clearing land by burning, directing officials to step up public education and law enforcement to prevent forest and land fires.

"Make it clear that land burning is strictly prohibited," President Prabowo said while chairing a meeting on fire management at the Riau Province Command Post in Pekanbaru on Monday.

In a video released by the Presidential Secretariat, Prabowo urged personnel to educate local communities on the ban and the hazards of slash-and-burn practices, emphasizing that deliberate burning will not be tolerated.

He noted that residents needing to clear land should submit requests to local officials, who will arrange government assista...