Students march in Indonesian capital to protest haze, Prabowo’s policies

The protests focus on Indonesia’s forest and land fires, which are producing dangerous haze. Students want the government to recognise the fires in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua as a national disaster. They say the scale of the crisis requires a stronger national response and greater attention to public health.

Students are also challenging budget and security priorities. They want spending stopped on what Yosafat Menteng called “white-elephant programmes,” including President Prabowo Subianto’s free meals scheme and the Red and White Cooperative. They want those funds channelled into free education instead. They also oppose increasing militarisation of civilian life.

The #IndonesiaAware protests took place in Jakarta and other haze-affected areas. University of Indonesia students demonstrated at several capital locations, while students from Kalimantan and Sumatra joined similar actions. The protests show that the fires are being treated not only as an environmental emergency, but also as a question of government accountability, public health, and spending choices.

Haze is a thick layer of polluted air containing smoke and tiny particles. It can reduce visibility and make breathing unhealthy. The article links Indonesia’s haze to blazing forest and land fires, especially in Kalimantan and Sumatra. It also reports chronic pollution across Java.

When forests or land burn, combustion releases smoke into the atmosphere. The smoke contains gases and fine particles that can travel far from the original fires. In Indonesia, fires in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua have produced pollution affecting cities and communities beyond the burning areas. Palangka Raya, Yosafat Menteng’s home city, is described as one of the worst affected.

The article does not provide measurements of particle levels or explain the fires’ exact causes. It does show the result: escalating air pollution, public concern, and protests. Katherine Hasan called the situation a wake-up call and said clean air is a fundamental human right that the government must protect.

The article presents the fires as a nationwide crisis rather than a problem confined to one island. It identifies ongoing wildfires in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua. It also reports escalating air pollution in Kalimantan and Sumatra, alongside chronic pollution across Java. That combination shows a broad environmental and public-health emergency.

The impact is especially serious in haze-stricken cities and communities. Palangka Raya, in Kalimantan, is described as one of the worst-affected cities. Protests have taken place in Central Kalimantan and other areas of Borneo and Sumatra. Students from Kalimantan travelled to Jakarta, showing how the crisis connects regional experiences with national politics.

The article does not give burned-area totals, pollution readings, or a precise number of affected people. It also says the number of protesters is unclear. Still, the geographic spread is substantial, and the heavy police and military presence in central Jakarta reflects the political sensitivity of the issue.

Declaring the fires a national disaster would formally recognise their scale and urgency. It could help align central and local authorities, emergency operations, public warnings, and relief efforts around one national response. The article does not explain Indonesia’s exact legal procedure or list the powers a declaration would provide, so those consequences cannot be stated precisely.

The protesters believe recognition would make the government confront the fires’ effects on human lives. Yosafat Menteng urged central officials to live and work in disaster zones so they could understand the destruction and its consequences. A declaration could therefore increase visibility, coordination, and pressure to protect people exposed to polluted air.

Funding is a major concern. The National Disaster Management Agency received 400 billion rupiah this year, down from 2 trillion rupiah last year. Students argue that the crisis needs stronger backing. Whether a declaration would automatically increase funding is not stated, but it would intensify demands for resources and accountability.

A government might hesitate because a national-disaster declaration can carry political and financial consequences. Critics in the article believe fiscal and political motives are behind the administration’s reluctance. Recognition could draw attention to government performance, require stronger coordination, and increase pressure for emergency spending.

The funding figures make that concern concrete. Indonesia allocated 400 billion rupiah to the National Disaster Management Agency this year, compared with 2 trillion rupiah last year. The article does not prove that the lower allocation caused the hesitation. It does show why protesters question whether the government has enough resources, or enough willingness, to respond at national scale.

The public-health effect is immediate. Forest and land fires are driving escalating pollution in Kalimantan and Sumatra, while Java faces chronic pollution. Continued delay could prolong exposure and weaken confidence in official protection. Katherine Hasan says clean air is a fundamental human right, making the decision a health and rights issue as well as a budget issue.

The connection is a budget choice. Government funds are limited, so spending on one programme can affect what remains for disaster management or education. Protesters argue that Indonesia should prioritise free education and a stronger response to the fires instead of costly populist programmes.

Yosafat Menteng specifically called for ending the free meals scheme and the Red and White Cooperative, describing them as “white-elephant programmes.” He wants their funds channelled into free education. At the same time, the National Disaster Management Agency’s allocation fell to 400 billion rupiah this year from 2 trillion rupiah last year. These figures make the competing priorities visible.

The article does not state the free-meals scheme’s budget or prove that it directly caused the disaster-funding cut. It does show protesters linking both issues through public spending. Their argument is that government choices should place education, emergency response, clean air, and public health above programmes they consider less urgent.

Prolonged wildfire smoke turns an environmental crisis into a public-health emergency. Polluted air can make breathing unsafe and increase risks for people exposed over time. The article does not list specific illnesses, medical totals, or livelihood losses. It does report escalating air pollution, consequences for human lives, and a duty to protect clean air.

The mechanism is continuous exposure. Fires release smoke and pollution, which can spread across communities and cities. Palangka Raya is among the worst-affected cities, while pollution is escalating in Kalimantan and Sumatra and remains chronic across Java. People living in those areas may face disrupted daily activities, work, travel, and local economies, although the article does not quantify those effects.

The rights dimension is central to the protests. Researcher Katherine Hasan calls clean air a fundamental human right and urges the government to put citizens’ rights and public health first. If pollution continues, pressure will grow for stronger emergency action, funding, and accountability. The article leaves the scale of future harm uncertain.