Thousands of Indonesians took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against wildfires and a persistent toxic haze that have affected the region for weeks. Demonstrations were held in multiple cities including Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta on Java island, as well as Pekanbaru in Sumatra and Makassar in South Sulawesi. The protests coincided with the second anniversary of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, with many participants expressing frustration over what they described as government ineffectiveness and corruption in addressing the crisis.
The wildfires, which have been burning since July, have devastated large areas of Borneo and Sumatra, contributing to hazardous air quality that has sickened thousands. Protesters in Jakarta displayed banners with messages such as “If we burn, you burn with us!” and “I have the right to breathe. Extinguish the fires immediately.” Similar sentiments were voiced in other affected areas.
In Palangkaraya, a city on Borneo, residents recounted the adverse impacts of the haze on their daily lives. Melsi, a 40-year-old street vendor, described a sharp decline in sales amid rising prices, adding that people in the community are reliant on government intervention. Homemaker Sifra, 29, reported her family experiencing respiratory issues for over a month, noting the haze’s toll on her own health and immune system. Local residents and protesters are urging the government to declare a state of emergency to better manage the situation.
Authorities have responded by deploying more than 60,000 firefighters, including volunteers, nationwide, according to Berton Panjaitan, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. Efforts to combat the fires also involve 49 aircraft equipped for water bombing and cloud seeding to stimulate rainfall. However, these operations have faced challenges, as many planes have been grounded at times due to the dense haze conditions.
Recent data from the Nusantara Atlas wildfire monitor indicates that more than 1.9 million hectares have been burned in Indonesia during the first nine months of 2026. The environmental impact has extended beyond Indonesia’s borders, with elevated air pollution recorded in neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore.
Tensions further escalated when six activists were detained after displaying Greenpeace protest banners at Jakarta’s Bundaran HI roundabout on Tuesday morning, ahead of the student-led marches. One banner linked the haze crisis directly to the government, labeling it a “national disaster.”
The ongoing wildfires and air pollution crisis remain a significant concern for Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asian region, as communities and activists call for intensified government action to bring the situation under control.