Jakarta [Indonesia], October 29 – Hundreds of Indonesians gathered in central Jakarta on Wednesday to protest economic hardship, corruption and the government’s handling of wildfires that have spread toxic haze across parts of Southeast Asia.
The haze has covered parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for weeks as authorities struggle to contain fires that have burned large areas of Borneo and Sumatra causing health problems for thousands.
Demonstrators waved posters criticising the government and used the three-finger salute associated with the dystopian film franchise “The Hunger Games”. Some demanded accountability over the fires rising prices and a weakening currency.
The protest organising committee known as SADAR called on the government to declare a national emergency to mobilise more resources to fight the fires. Deforestation monitor Nusantara Atlas said the blazes had destroyed more than 1.9 million hectares in the nine months to September.
Protester Sekar, 37, told AFP she had joined the demonstration to protect the students who organised it. Annette Mau, 47, of the Indonesian Mothers’ Alliance said children were suffering health problems because of the toxic haze.
Police said about 14,000 officers alongside soldiers had been deployed to maintain security during the demonstrations.
Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan was expected to meet Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta on Wednesday. Balakrishnan said on Tuesday that the haze was not a natural phenomenon and that the fires had been caused by human activity.
The pollution has also strained Indonesia’s relations with neighbouring countries.
