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Wrapped upenvironmentclimatecorruption

Students and activists protest wildfires and toxic haze in Jakarta

Several cities · pinned on Jakarta, Indonesia · Oct 20, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Oct 20.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
Protesters demonstrated against ongoing wildfires, toxic haze, economic pressures, and corruption as the administration marked two years.
What they want
They demanded that the government declare the fires a national disaster, prosecute responsible companies, and lower living costs.
What changed
Oct 20: Police evacuated and took six activists to a medical facility after they scaled a monument in Central Jakarta.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Declare the prolonged forest fires a national disaster
  • Prosecute companies responsible for environmental damage
  • Improve economic policies and lower the cost of living
  • Protect freedom of expression and tackle corruption
  • Make education and health care more affordable

Organised by: University of Indonesia Student Executive Board, All-Indonesia Student Executive Board, Komite Sadar coalition, Greenpeace Indonesia

What authorities say

Central Jakarta police chief Reynold EP Hutagalung stated that authorities evacuated six activists who scaled a monument, taking them to a medical facility after one appeared weak. Police are investigating how they accessed the site, though it remains unclear if formal arrests or criminal charges were filed.23

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Arrests / detentions
6
Police detained six activists who had draped Greenpeace protest banners2

The full story

On October 20, 2026, coinciding with the second anniversary of President Prabowo Subianto's administration, students and civil society groups staged demonstrations in Jakarta and several other Indonesian cities. Organized by groups including the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board, the All-Indonesia Student Executive Board, and the Komite Sadar coalition, alongside activists from Greenpeace Indonesia, the protests targeted the government's handling of severe forest and peatland fires that have caused regional toxic haze, rising living costs, and environmental degradation. Earlier in the day, six Greenpeace activists scaled the Welcome Monument at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle to unfurl banners criticizing the administration. Authorities subsequently evacuated the activists, with police taking them to a medical facility for checks after one appeared weak. Protesters called on officials to declare the fires a national disaster, prosecute liable companies, protect freedom of expression, tackle corruption, and make healthcare and education more affordable.

Timeline

  1. Students and civil society groups marched around the Tugu Tani monument and other areas in Jakarta to voice economic and environmental grievances.123

  2. Authorities evacuated the six activists from the monument, taking them to a medical facility following exhaustion.3

  3. Six Greenpeace activists climbed the Welcome Monument in Central Jakarta early in the morning to display banners against the haze.123

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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