Thousands of Indonesians took to the streets in Jakarta and several other cities on Wednesday to voice their frustration over economic difficulties, corruption, and the government’s response to widespread wildfires that have caused severe health problems. Authorities deployed approximately 14,000 police officers and additional military personnel in Jakarta to manage the demonstrations.

The protests were organized by a committee calling itself SADAR, an acronym meaning “aware” in Bahasa Indonesia. The group described the gatherings as part of a “revolution that is being proclaimed” and called on the government to declare a national emergency. This designation would allow for the allocation of greater resources to tackle the wildfire crisis affecting the archipelago.

According to data from the deforestation monitoring organization Nusantara Atlas, wildfires have devastated over 1.9 million hectares of land in Indonesia during the first nine months of the year, through September. The blazes have generated a toxic haze, leading to thousands of reported cases of illness across the affected regions.

The demonstrators’ demands highlight concerns about the effectiveness of government measures to contain the fires and address the underlying issues driving the environmental and health crises. The protests reflect broader public dissatisfaction with economic conditions and ongoing corruption challenges in Indonesia.