INDONESIA (From news reports) -- An Indonesian court has thrown out a lawsuit filed by residents against plantation companies, which accused the firms of causing lung-choking smoke by lighting peatland fires.

Eleven plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in the city of Palembang on the western island of Sumatra, demanding damages from three plantation companies.

But a court in the city declared their case inadmissible, according to a post on the court's website Thursday, without giving a reason.

The ruling had left residents "in a difficult situation" after a months-long struggle for justice, said one of the plaintiffs' lawyers Sekar Banjaran Aji, also a Greenpeace Indonesia forest campaigner.

"The court should provide justice but, instead, they do not help the people," Sekar told AFP on Friday.

She said they were planning to appeal the verdict.

Three companies named in the lawsuit -- PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai, and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries -- are suppliers to Asia Pulp & Paper, one of Indonesia's largest pulp and paper companies.

The lawsuit alleged fires in the companies' concessions have contributed to widespread haze in Palembang in 2015, 2019 and 2023, said Greenpeace Indonesia.

The NGO said the court's reason was that the plaintiffs "lacked standing to sue".

Plaintiff Muhkamat Arif called the ruling "disappointing".

"This will not dampen our spirits to continue fighting until we win," he said in a statement.

Asia Pulp & Paper did not respond to a request for comment.

A prolonged dry season has caused higher risks of wildfires in Indonesia, stoking fears of repeat haze-belching forest fires that have also affected neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore in recent years.