Jakarta, September 19, 2025, witnessed swarms of people take to the streets in a protest titled #DrawTheLine #ResetIndonesia. From students, communities, and environmental organizations to artists and workers, everyone gathered with one common goal: to demand climate justice, defend democratic space, and fight against the dominance of dirty energy and large corporations that still form the backbone of this country.
This action carries four main demands, formulated as the boundary line of the people’s struggle:
- Solutions from the People, Not the Elite: We should no longer decide climate and development policies behind closed doors, benefiting only a handful of people or large corporations. We must prioritize the affected people and realize solutions that are equitable for everyone
- Protect the People, Not the Oligarchy.
Violence, criminalization, and intimidation against environmental defenders, Indigenous peoples, and human rights activists are on the rise. The state must stop siding with oligarchs who destroy the environment and restore a sense of safety for its citizens. A healthy democracy is only possible when criticism is recognized as part of civic space, not treated as a threat. - Tax the Rich, Tax the Polluters
The people have long borne the burden of air pollution, economic crises, and worsening health. Meanwhile, the rich and dirty energy corporations keep piling up profits from destroying the environment. It is time for those who cause the most damage to pay the most, through wealth taxes and pollution taxes. - A Clean and Just Energy System
There can be no true energy transition if coal power plants continue to operate. This action calls on the government to shut down coal-fired power plants, stop new construction, and fulfill its pledge of 100% renewable energy by 2035. The transition must serve the people, not extend the life of fossil fuels with false solutions.
From the gathering point at the Kendal Tunnel to the State Palace, the protesters displayed courage and creativity. From unique costumes, posters, and music to street performances, these were the ways in which the people expressed their anxieties and hopes for the struggle. The atmosphere of this protest was not just a mere protest; it was a long journey that must be celebrated in a democracy that is becoming increasingly closed.
However, the march did not go smoothly. Amidst the protesters’ enthusiasm in fighting for the people’s rights to living space, they faced discrimination from the police. Blockades, intimidation against protesters, and violent clashes prevented the protesters from reaching their planned destination. There were even attempts to drag away protesters, but the attempts failed. Instead of listening to the people’s aspirations, the state once again showed its repressive face by limiting freedom of speech.
Failure to reach the final destination is not a failure of our struggle, but proof that our democratic space is shrinking and under growing threatThe dividing line is becoming clearer: the people are on one side, while the powers that bow to the oligarchy are on the other.
The #DrawTheLine campaign does not belong to just one group; it belongs to all Indonesians suffering under the failed policies of the Prabowo-Gibran oligarchy. This campaign is built on solidarity,working together with a broad network of other civil society groups and environmental organizations, including 350.org Indonesia, Climate Rangers, Yayasan CERAH Indonesia, Extinction Rebellion (XR), and Greenpeace Indonesia. This collaboration shows that the issues of climate, democracy, and social justice are interconnected. There can be no climate justice without social justice, and no social justice without a democracy that thrives on the trust of the people.
The climate crisis is becoming more apparent every day, from floods and droughts to toxic air and extreme temperatures that disrupt health. At the same time, our democratic space is shrinking. Both crises stem from the same thing: political and economic decisions that are controlled only by a handful of elites, while the people bear the greatest costs.
The #DrawTheLine action is a call to draw a clear line between life and death, between a clean future and a future held hostage by fossil fuels and large corporations that are environmental criminals, and between a vibrant democracy and a democracy that kills its own people.
For life, for people, for the planet.
This line belongs to us, to those of us who are victims of injustice in our own land. And we will not stop drawing it.
