Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has expressed respect for Greenpeace Indonesia’s protest in Central Jakarta as an exercise of freedom of expression, while reaffirming its commitment to addressing the climate crisis and rising living costs.
“The government respects Greenpeace Indonesia’s protest this morning as a form of freedom of expression. The effects of the climate crisis and rising living costs are also among the president’s concerns,” Government Communications Agency (Bakom) Head Syahganda Nainggolan said in a statement on Tuesday.
Nainggolan was responding to a protest in which activists unfurled giant banners criticizing the government’s climate policies and rising living costs at the Selamat Datang Monument in the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout area of Central Jakarta.
To address the climate crisis, the government has stepped up efforts to contain forest fires, allocating Rp760 billion to seven affected provinces. President Prabowo Subianto has also personally led the operation, according to the statement.
The government is also strengthening law enforcement against those responsible for causing forest fires, which can be classified as a form of “ecological terrorism,” Nainggolan said.
Meanwhile, he said the government was taking steps to address rising living costs and maintain purchasing power amid global economic uncertainty affecting the prices of basic necessities and household expenses.
“The government has prepared a Rp26.34 trillion stimulus package for the second half of 2026, including assistance in the form of 10 kilograms of rice for 33.24 million beneficiaries,” Nainggolan said.
Prabowo’s administration has also allocated an additional 1 million tons of rice from government reserves to help stabilize prices and pledged to keep fuel prices unchanged through the end of 2026.
The president recognizes that the climate crisis and rising living costs require sustained mitigation efforts, and that public input, including from Greenpeace Indonesia, is welcome, Nainggolan said.
“Our work to address these issues is not yet finished. We encourage Greenpeace to submit its data and recommendations to the relevant ministries as input for further improvements,” he said.
The protest took place during the morning rush hour on Tuesday, when activists unfurled banners from the top of the Selamat Datang Monument. Police and firefighters removed the banners at around 8 a.m. local time, according to reports.
The demonstration coincided with the second anniversary of Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka taking office.
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Translator: Fathur Rochman, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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