Hundreds gather in Jakarta to demand emergency measures to tackle wildfires, as blazes have destroyed more than 1.9 million hectares in nine months.
Key takeaways
Thousands of Indonesians protested against government corruption, economic hardship, and persistent wildfires, demanding a national emergency declaration. Police deployed approximately 14,000 officers and soldiers to manage the demonstrations organized by the group SADAR.
- Protesters used Hunger Games gestures and anti-government slogans to express anger over economic issues and environmental neglect.
- The organizing committee SADAR demanded a national emergency declaration to secure resources for fighting wildfires.
- Authorities deployed around 14,000 police officers and soldiers to maintain order during the demonstrations.
Summarised automatically by AI from the original article by Free Malaysia Today. AI can make mistakes, so check the original for details.
Students shout slogans and raise the three-finger salute, a symbol of resistance, during an anti-government protest in Jakarta, Indonesia. (EPA Images pic)JAKARTA: Hundreds of Indonesians gathered in central Jakarta on Wednesday to protest against economic hardship, graft and the government's handling of devastating wildfires causing toxic haze that has sickened thousands.
Many demonstrators held up the three-finger salute of rebellion from dystopian franchise "The Hunger Games", and waved posters with angry messages such as: "Hungry? Eat the Rich!"
One sign read, "No Clean Air Under Dirty Government", while another blared, using a pejorative for President Prabowo Subianto: "Hey Wok! Nobody paid us. We all hate you for free."
