Indonesia beefs up security presence to prepare for student protests

JAKARTA, Oct 28 (Reuters) - ‌Hundreds of Indonesian ​security ​personnel were deployed on Wednesday in anticipation of student protests against several of President Prabowo ‌Subianto's policies, as well as his government's handling ⁠of forest fires.

• Students from the University of Indonesia said they ‌were set to stage ‌protests in several spots in the capital Jakarta

• They are calling on the government to declare the ​ongoing wildfires in Sumatra and Borneo a national disaster, and to halt spending on populist programmes such ⁠as Prabowo's free meals scheme, among other demands

• Wednesday's protests carry the ​hashtag #IndonesiaAware, the students said

• It is unclear how many students will take to the streets

• ​A heavy police and military ‌presence, as well as armoured vehicles, could be seen in busy parts of central ⁠Jakarta on Wednesday morning

• Protests have also been held in haze-stricken areas of Borneo and Sumatra, including one in Central ⁠Kalimantan last week

• Prabowo's approval ratings have fallen steadily since late ​last year, according to surveys by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), two years into his presidency

• Indonesia's last major protest took ‌place in August, when hundreds were detained, and students also held demonstrations last ‌week

• In 2025, weeks-long nationwide protests broke out in ⁠Indonesia after the police ‌killing of a motorcycle ​taxi driver, with several more people killed during the unrest

(Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by David ‌Stanway)

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