Protests spread in Indonesia over fires and haze

People (left) gathering outside the Central Kalimantan governor’s office on Oct 15 to protest against the government’s response to the haze issue, and the budget allocated for disaster management.

Listen Summarise Protests are spreading across Indonesia as people demand stronger action on forest and land fires, better health support and tougher penalties for companies linked to the blazes. The fires, worsened by El Nino drought, have caused severe haze, with respiratory illness cases rising to 283,270 in seven provinces and pollution affecting Singapore and Malaysia. Officials are still debating a national disaster declaration, while BNPB chief Kristomei Sianturi said the government will assess it but must focus first on a fast and effective response. AI generated