World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Fires and haze fuel wider protests in Indonesia
Indonesia is facing its worst fire season in a decade, with almost 2 million hectares burned and toxic haze affecting the region.
In Jakarta, hundreds joined protests demanding that President Prabowo Subianto declare the fires a national disaster.
The demonstrations also reflect wider anger over government policies, economic pressures and concerns about centralised power.
Four volunteer firefighters have died this month, while the government says it has sent 70,000 personnel to fire-hit areas and is investigating those suspected of starting fires.
A poll this month found that Prabowo's approval rating was 44.5%, the lowest for an Indonesian president since polling began 20 years ago.
Rain brought temporary relief from the haze in one Indonesian city this week, as residents and firefighters went outside to celebrate.
The protests are part of a broader period of public discontent, and the government says it is addressing concerns about the environment, economy and legal reform.
Fires covering almost 2 million hectares have created Indonesia’s worst fire season in a decade and sent thick haze across the region.
Protesters in Jakarta demanded that President Prabowo Subianto declare the fires a national disaster.
The demonstrations are part of wider anger over government policies, economic strain and concerns about the government’s direction.
The government said it had sent 70,000 firefighting personnel to affected regions and was investigating those allegedly responsible for starting fires.
Rain brought relief this week to residents and firefighters in an Indonesian city that had been shrouded in toxic haze.
- Who
- Protesters, residents and firefighters in Indonesia; President Prabowo Subianto is the focus of a protest demand.
- What
- Fires and haze have fuelled protests, including calls to declare the fires a national disaster. Rain brought temporary relief in one city.
- When
- The protests took place on Wednesday and on 23 October; rain brought relief this week.
- Where
- Jakarta and fire-hit parts of Indonesia, including Kalimantan; the city receiving rain is not named.
- Why
- Protesters demanded stronger action over the fires and raised wider concerns about government policies, the economy and legal reform.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Central Kalimantan governor’s office in Palangkaraya to demand action over forest and land fires.
Hundreds protested in Jakarta, the second demonstration in a week, and called for the fires to be declared a national disaster.
Rain brought relief to residents and firefighters in an Indonesian city affected by fire haze.
- Area burned
- Almost 2 million hectares
- Fire season
- Indonesia’s worst in a decade
- Firefighting personnel
- 70,000 sent to fire-hit regions
- Protest demand
- Declare the fires a national disaster
- Poll result
- About 62% opposed the free meals program
- Approval rating
- Prabowo’s rating was 44.5%
3 sources
What people are saying
The government claims to be continuously increasing the number of personnel to extinguish it. But we have yet to see any significant progress.
it welcomed the aspirations of student protesters as part of an effort to nurture democracy
This current government is strong at agenda setting in public policy, but it is very weak at delivery