Jakarta. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has urged demonstrators to protest peacefully and maintain public order as students and civil society groups stage protests against President Prabowo Subianto’s administration on the second anniversary of his inauguration.

Jakarta police have deployed 9,505 personnel, alongside military members and local government officials, to secure demonstrations and other public activities across the capital on Tuesday.

“Jakarta, or Indonesia, is a democratic country. We certainly respect and appreciate actions like this. But the most important thing is that they do not disrupt public order,” Pramono said on Tuesday.

Greenpeace activists also staged a protest at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in Central Jakarta, criticizing the government’s handling of the climate crisis and its impact on living costs.

One banner facing north toward Merdeka Palace read, “Address the Climate Crisis, Lower the Cost of Living.” Another read, “Disasters Are Getting Worse, Life Is Getting Harder, What Is the Government Doing?”

Pramono said he had received reports about the protest and hoped the activists would soon remove the banners to prevent disruption to public order.

“I heard about them, and hopefully they will come down soon. Otherwise, we must make sure public order is not disrupted,” he said. 

The banners were subsequently taken down by a joint team comprising personnel from the National Police, the Indonesian Military, the fire department and the Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP). Personnel were seen near the roundabout’s pond as the banners were removed.

Pramono also expressed hope that the wider demonstrations would proceed safely and peacefully, with protesters’ demands heard by both the central government and the Jakarta administration.

“I sincerely hope that today’s demonstrations will take place safely, peacefully and in an orderly manner, and that the aspirations being expressed can be addressed or acted upon by the government,” he said.

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