PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com—West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan announced free medical treatment for residents suffering from acute respiratory infections (ISPA) linked to forest and land fire (karhutla) smoke after meeting student protesters in Pontianak on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

Students from Universitas Panca Bhakti (UPB) marched from the Digulis Monument to the West Kalimantan Governor’s Office on the 98th anniversary of Youth Pledge Day. They presented four demands concerning forest fires, fuel distribution, regional development and alleged violence against demonstrators.

Norsan met the students in the courtyard of his office and described the demonstration as peaceful.

“Thank God, today’s protest was very courteous,” Norsan said. “They did not use insulting language, and we received their aspirations well.”

The students’ first demand called for stronger prevention, suppression and recovery measures for Karhutla. They also requested greater transparency in the use of disaster funds and legal action against individuals or companies responsible for burning land.

The second demand addressed fuel shortages and the distribution of subsidized gasoline and diesel. Students urged the provincial administration to act against misuse at fuel stations and ensure supplies reach communities at reasonable prices.

Their remaining demands concerned more equitable development in disadvantaged, frontier and outermost areas (3T regions). They also sought legal action over alleged attacks on participants in an earlier demonstration. The claims of violence require investigation by the relevant law enforcement authorities.

Responding to concerns about the health effects of smoke, Norsan said residents diagnosed with fire-related acute respiratory infections (ISPA) would not have to pay for treatment.

“I have instructed hospitals in urban areas and Puskesmas [community health centers] to provide free treatment for patients suffering from ISPA caused by the fires,” he said.

“All hospitals. If someone has ISPA, they do not need to pay,” he added.

A separate report said the policy would cover government-run health facilities and apply regardless of whether patients were registered with the national health insurance program, BPJS Kesehatan.

However, the provincial administration had not publicly released detailed eligibility, referral or reimbursement procedures at the time of publication. Residents should therefore confirm the arrangements with their nearest public hospital or community health center.

The announcement comes amid substantial public health pressure. Health Ministry figures cited by the National Police news service recorded 55,686 fire-related ISPA cases in West Kalimantan between Aug. 20 and Oct. 20. Nationwide, authorities recorded 314,124 cases across seven affected provinces, including 70,890 involving children under five.

The students also asked the government to improve fuel distribution and accelerate development in remote communities. Norsan said the administration had added transport capacity to support fuel deliveries. He asked residents to submit verifiable evidence of distribution violations so authorities could investigate them.

On the alleged violence during an earlier protest, Norsan supported legal enforcement. “If authorities have identified the perpetrators, they should arrest them,” he said.

Local reporting said the rally ended peacefully after students delivered their written demands and held a joint photograph with the governor. The four issues now require separate follow-up because they fall under different agencies and levels of government.

The meeting opened a direct channel between students and the provincial administration. Its value, however, will depend on whether the free-treatment policy receives clear operating rules and whether officials publish measurable progress on fire recovery, fuel access and 3T development.