Thousands Protest in Indonesia Over Wildfires and Economic Crisis

Thousands of protesters gathered in Jakarta and other major cities on October 28, 2026, to denounce the Government of Indonesia for its handling of devastating wildfires, economic instability, and official corruption. Organized by the committee SADAR and the University of Indonesia student association, demonstrators at the Bundaran HI roundabout and in cities like Yogyakarta and Bandung demanded a national emergency declaration to secure more resources for fighting blazes. Reports indicate that over 1.9 million hectares have burned through September, resulting in the deaths of four volunteer firefighters and a toxic haze affecting infants and neighboring Singapore.

Government spokesperson Syahganda Nainggolan defended the administration's response, stating that 70,000 firefighting personnel have been deployed and legal actions are being pursued against responsible parties. However, the environmental crisis has exacerbated wider grievances, including fuel shortages in Bali and Sulawesi, a record low rupiah, and corruption surrounding a controversial free meals program. These factors have contributed to President Prabowo Subianto's approval rating falling to 44.5%, the lowest for an Indonesian president in two decades.

Regional tensions have also risen as Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan attributed the haze to human action rather than natural phenomena. Domestically, President Prabowo has faced additional pressure from the global index provider MSCI over potential market downgrades, which he characterized as an attempt to intimidate the nation.