Jakarta: Students took to the streets in several Indonesian cities on Tuesday to protest rising living costs, forest fires and the government’s handling of economic and environmental issues. The demonstrations came as President Prabowo Subianto’s administration completed two years in office.

Protests were held in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bandung in West Java, where students and civil society groups raised concerns about the cost of living, environmental damage and freedom of expression.

In Jakarta, hundreds of university students gathered near the Tugu Tani monument. They called for urgent action against forest and peatland fires, which have filled parts of the region with toxic haze, disrupted flights and forced schools to close. The smoke has also raised concerns about its impact on people’s health.

Students Demand Action Against Forest Fires

The protesters urged the government to declare the prolonged forest fires a national disaster and take action against companies suspected of causing environmental damage. They also called for stronger action against corruption and demanded more affordable education and healthcare.

Protection of civil liberties was another key demand, with demonstrators asking the government to do more to safeguard freedom of expression.

The protests also saw incidents of violence. According to RT, a police truck was set on fire during the unrest.

Indonesia has been struggling to control forest fires in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua amid an unusually severe dry season linked to El Niño. The smoke has spread beyond the country, affecting neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia and raising concerns over regional air quality.

President Calls for Faster Response to Fires

As protests continued, President Prabowo chaired a meeting at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday to discuss ways to speed up efforts to control forest and land fires.

Presidential Chief of Staff General Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo shared details of the meeting in a post on X. He said the President had called for stronger aerial operations and better coordination between the armed forces, police, disaster management authorities, local governments and communities.

Prabowo also directed officials to speed up investigations into 98 corporate cases suspected of being linked to forest and land fires.

Listyo said his office would monitor the government’s response and ensure that legal proceedings were based on evidence and followed the applicable rules.

Greenpeace Activists Raise Alarm Over Wildfires

In a separate protest on Tuesday, Greenpeace Indonesia activists climbed the Welcome Monument at Jakarta’s Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and unfurled large banners.

The activists accused the government of failing to address the recurring wildfires. Their protest added to growing public pressure for stronger action to tackle the fires and their environmental impact.

The demonstrations have brought together concerns over household expenses, environmental damage and civil liberties, putting these issues in focus as the government enters its third year in office.

Also Read: