Months of Practice Culminate in a Direct Message to the Palace

On Tuesday, October 20, 2026, six Greenpeace Indonesia activists scaled the Patung Selamat Datang monument at the Hotel Indonesia Bundaran in Central Jakarta to hang two massive protest banners, drawing broad public attention on the two-year anniversary of the Prabowo-Gibran administration.

Greenpeace Climbs Bundaran HI Monument

The activists executed a silent climb using vertical climbing gear early Tuesday morning, reaching the peak support structure of the monument between 06:05 and 06:15 WIB. They deployed two banners with contrasting messages targeted at both the central government and the general public. Atha Rasyadi noted that the action was planned well in advance through careful physical training and campaign strategy, despite avoiding early detection by police officers.

The Meaning Behind the Protest Banners

The two giant banners displayed differing messages directed at the capital and the public, reflecting widespread economic and environmental grievances. One banner faced north toward the State Palace, reading Tangani Krisis Iklim, Turunkan Biaya Hidup (Handle the Climate Crisis, Lower the Cost of Living), while the second banner faced south, asking Bencana Makin Parah, Hidup Makin Susah, Apa Kerja Pemerintah? (Disasters Are Getting Worse, Life Is Getting Harder, What Is the Government’s Work?). According to Atha Rasyadi, the demonstration aimed to publicize research linking erratic weather, long droughts, and environmental degradation—such as ongoing forest and land fires—to rising food prices, reduced productivity, falling incomes, and household hardships.

Authorities evacuate six activists from monument top

Following the demonstration, a joint team from the Central Jakarta Metro Police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the Jakarta Provincial Government evacuated all six activists—comprising four men and two women—from the top of the monument. Tribrata News reported that Kabid Humas Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Pol Budi Hermanto denied any arrests were made, stating instead that the activists were taken to the Polda Metro Jaya clinic for medical check-ups and psychological care after experiencing dizziness and fatigue from high altitude exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Greenpeace activists climb the Bundaran HI monument?

The activists climbed the monument on October 20, 2026, to protest the two-year record of the Prabowo-Gibran administration and release research linking climate change to rising food prices, lower incomes, and unaddressed environmental disasters like forest fires.

Were the Greenpeace activists arrested by the police?

No, the police denied making any arrests. According to Kabid Humas Polda Metro Jaya Kombes Pol Budi Hermanto, the activists were transported in medical vehicles for health and psychological assessments after experiencing fatigue at high altitude before returning home on Tuesday night.

What messages were written on the banners?

The north-facing banner read Tangani Krisis Iklim, Turunkan Biaya Hidup, while the south-facing banner asked Bencana Makin Parah, Hidup Makin Susah, Apa Kerja Pemerintah?