Indonesia's government said President Prabowo Subianto shares concerns about the climate crisis and living costs after Greenpeace Indonesia's haze protest, as students pressed for a national disaster declaration.
Government Communication Agency (Bakom) head Syahganda Nainggolan said in an Oct. 20 statement that the government respected Greenpeace's action as an exercise of free expression. The statement followed demonstrations marking Prabowo's second anniversary in office.
Greenpeace Indonesia displayed two banners at Jakarta's Hotel Indonesia Roundabout calling for climate action and relief from living costs. The group said haze was harming health and disrupting economic activity.
Students at Jakarta's Tugu Tani monument demanded that the fires be declared a national disaster. Demonstrators also gathered in Yogyakarta and Bandung, The Straits Times reported.
The Straits Times reported that University of Indonesia student body president Yatalathof Imawan told protesters in Jakarta that organizers plan a national demonstration there on Oct. 28, Indonesia's Youth Pledge Day.
