Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – Authorities have finally released six activists from Greenpeace Indonesia who were previously arrested and detained at the Jakarta Metro Police late Tuesday, October 20, 2026. They were arrested after staging a peaceful protest by unfurling banners on top of the Selamat Datang Monument in HI Roundabout area in Central Jakarta.
The Head of Advocacy of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, Alif Fauzi Nurwidiastomo, said the six activists had been allowed to leave the police station in the evening. "They were allowed to go home around 8:30 p.m. local time," Alif said when confirmed by Tempo on Tuesday night.
The news of their release was also conveyed through the official Threads account of Greenpeace Indonesia. In a recent post, Greenpeace stated that the six activists were released because no criminal elements were found in the peaceful protest they conducted. "Our activist friends have been RELEASED! There are no criminal elements, six Greenpeace activists were released," wrote the Threads account @greenpeaceid.
Greenpeace also expressed appreciation to all parties who have provided support during the detention and legal assistance process. They emphasized that this release is not the end of the struggle, but rather a momentum to continue monitoring environmental issues.
"Thank you to everyone who has supported this peaceful protest. The struggle is not over. It's time to keep speaking out, monitoring the issues we are fighting for, and ensuring that the people's voices are not ignored," the statement continued.
Tempo has asked for confirmation about the release with the Head of Public Relations of Jakarta Metro Police Commissioner Budi Hermanto, but there has been no immediate response.
Greenpeace Indonesia earlier held a peaceful protest at HI Roundabout marking the two years of Prabowo-Gibran administration. During the action, volunteers unfurled banners reading "Address Climate Crisis, Lower Cost of Living" and "Disasters are Getting Worse, Life is Getting Harder, What is the Government Doing?"
The banners lasted only two hours before police asked them to be taken down. Police also arrested a total of 11 people from the protest site, including six Greenpeace activists and five others consisting of rescue team members and journalists.
A representative from the Advocacy Team for Democracy or TAUD from LBH Jakarta, Daniel Winarta, said the detention lacked a clear legal basis. Daniel suspected that the police were forcing legal processes by searching for potential violations that the activists did not actually commit.
Daniel revealed that the legal team was asked to wait under the pretext that the activists would be transferred to the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of Jakarta Metro Police. However, three hours later, they still did not receive clarification on the legal process or any charges against the activists.
The action held by Greenpeace Indonesia aimed to urge the government to take the climate crisis that increasingly threatens the quality of life of Indonesian people more seriously. Climate Justice Campaigner of Greenpeace Indonesia, Jeanny Sirait, emphasized that the administration of Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka must open their eyes to the climate crisis.
Extreme weather and ecological disasters not only threaten the safety and health of the public but also disrupt livelihoods, constrain people's incomes, and drive up food prices. "Working groups who live in economic vulnerability are the hardest hit," Jeanny stated in a written statement.