Indonesia beefs up security presence to prepare for student protests
A heavy police and military presence, as well as armoured vehicles, could be seen in busy parts of central Jakarta on Wednesday (Oct 28) morning.
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Hundreds of security personnel have been deployed in the capital ahead of student protests scheduled for Wednesday, in response to President Prabowo Subianto's policies and the government's management of forest fires. University of Indonesia students plan to stage demonstrations in multiple locations, demanding the declaration of the ongoing wildfires in Sumatra and Borneo as a national disaster and an end to spending on populist programs like Prabowo's free meals scheme.
The protests are being marked by the hashtag #IndonesiaAware. It remains uncertain how many students will participate. On Wednesday morning, a substantial police and military presence, along with armored vehicles, was observed in central Jakarta. Similar protests have occurred in haze-stricken regions of Borneo and Sumatra, including one in Central Kalimantan last week.
President Prabowo's approval ratings have declined steadily since late last year, according to surveys by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC). The last major protest in Indonesia took place in August, resulting in the detention of hundreds, and students also demonstrated last week. In 2025, nationwide protests erupted following the police killing of a motorcycle taxi driver, leading to additional fatalities during the unrest.
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