Summary Hundreds of security personnel deployed in Jakarta ahead of student protests demanding a national disaster declaration for wildfires in Sumatra and Borneo and cuts to populist spending programmes.
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Hundreds of Indonesian security personnel were deployed on Wednesday in anticipation of student protests against several of President Prabowo Subianto's policies, as well as his government's handling of forest fires.
Students from the University of Indonesia said they were set to stage protests in several spots in the capital Jakarta
They are calling on the government to declare the ongoing wildfires in Sumatra and Borneo a national disaster, and to halt spending on populist programmes such as Prabowo's free meals scheme, among other demands
Wednesday's protests carry the hashtag #IndonesiaAware, the students said
It is unclear how many students will take to the streets
A heavy police and military presence, as well as armoured vehicles, could be seen in busy parts of central Jakarta on Wednesday morning
Protests have also been held in haze-stricken areas of Borneo and Sumatra, including one in Central Kalimantan last week
Prabowo's approval ratings have fallen steadily since late last year, according to surveys by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), two years into his presidency
Indonesia's last major protest took place in August, when hundreds were detained, and students also held demonstrations last week
In 2025, weeks-long nationwide protests broke out in Indonesia after the police killing of a motorcycle taxi driver, with several more people killed during the unrest
