Indonesia scraps haze pact

In a major setback for asean's efforts to fight the haze in the region, Indonesian lawmakers have refused to endorse a bill that would have paved the way for Jakarta to ratify the grouping's trans-boundary haze agreement.

The unanimous decision was taken at a parliamentary hearing on March 14. The agreement calls for a regional coordinating centre to help mobilize resources to fight the fires, often triggered by slash-and-burn practices by farmers, timber and plantation companies. The Indonesian government says ratifying the pact will mandate introducing zero-burning policy, which will not be in interest of the people.