"JAKARTA - Indonesian President ‌Prabowo Subianto ordered prosecutors on Friday to file criminal charges against companies that refuse to cooperate with a task force he launched to crack down on illegal activities in the country's forests.

The task force, made up of military personnel, prosecutors and environmental regulators, ​has since early 2025 been seizing areas controlled by companies and individuals, ordering them to pay ​fines for what they describe as illegal business operations in designated forest areas.

A ⁠total of 5.88 million hectares (14.5 million acres) of oil palm plantations and 10,257 hectares of mining concessions ​have been taken over so far, according to the deputy head of the task force, Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin - ​nearly twice the size of Belgium.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the task force's efforts, Burhanuddin handed 7.23 trillion rupiah ($423.18 million) of fines paid by implicated companies over to the finance ministry."

Stefanno Sulaiman and Gayatri Suroyo report for Reuters April 10, 2026. [2]