Jakarta. Jakarta police have denied arresting six Greenpeace Indonesia activists who unfurled a protest banner atop the Welcome Monument at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, saying they were taken for medical treatment after experiencing dizziness and weakness.

Budi Hermanto, head of public relations at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, said on Wednesday that officers arranged medical assistance after the activists descended from the monument in central Jakarta.

“Medical teams from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police and the Central Jakarta Police were prepared, so they could be taken for medical treatment. There was no arrest,” Budi told reporters.

He said the medical treatment was documented with assistance from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI). All six activists returned home on Tuesday night, he added.

Budi said police had prioritized the activists’ physical and psychological well-being because they had been at a considerable height during the protest.

Asked why the activists received treatment at the metropolitan police headquarters rather than another medical facility, Budi said the police had their own medical personnel through its medical and health division.

The six activists were evacuated on Tuesday by Central Jakarta police, military personnel and Jakarta administration officials after staging the protest at the Welcome Monument, a landmark at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Reynold E.P. Hutagalung said the activists — two women and four men — unfurled the banner between 6:05 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. on Tuesday.

One of the women appeared weak while descending from the monument and was taken by ambulance to the medical clinic at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters, Reynold said.

“All six were evacuated, and none remained atop the monument,” he said, adding that police had prioritized their safety.

Separately, the government said it respected Greenpeace’s protest as an exercise of freedom of expression.

Syahganda Nainggolan, head of the government communications agency, said President Prabowo Subianto was concerned about the effects of the climate crisis and rising living costs on the public.

“The government respects Greenpeace’s action this morning as part of freedom of expression. Concerns about the impact of the climate crisis and people’s living costs are also a concern for the president,” Syahganda said.

He added that the government was continuing to implement policies to address environmental challenges while protecting people’s purchasing power amid global economic volatility.

The protest took place as climate change and living costs remain key public concerns. Greenpeace Indonesia has used public demonstrations to draw attention to environmental issues and press the government to take action.

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