Haze-fueled protests engulf Jakarta – RT reports (VIDEO)

A wave of protests fueled by toxic haze from massive wildfires continues in Indonesia, with thousands of demonstrators rallying in central Jakarta last week.

Anti-government demonstrations began earlier this month, around the second anniversary of President Prabowo Subianto’s inauguration.

Anger over the government’s handling of the wildfire crisis, described as the worst in more than a decade and linked to widespread respiratory illnesses, has compounded discontent over the rising cost of living, perceived corruption and other grievances.

Protesters are demanding that the government declare a national emergency, a step officials have argued is unnecessary because sufficient resources have already been allocated to tackle the situation. The administration says it has deployed an additional 70,000 firefighting personnel. Combined with improving weather conditions, the effort has helped reduce air pollution in affected parts of Indonesia and neighboring Malaysia and Singapore, according to officials.

Scientists say extreme heat and an intensifying El Nino phenomenon in the Pacific have made Indonesia’s forests and peatlands particularly vulnerable to fires this year. The government has also alleged that some of the fires may have been deliberately started and has launched investigations.

Watch RT’s Indra Marpaung report from Jakarta.