Jakarta, Oct. 20 -- The Indonesian government has expressed respect for Greenpeace Indonesia's protest in Central Jakarta as an exercise of freedom of expression, while reaffirming its commitment to addressing the climate crisis and rising living costs.

"The government respects Greenpeace Indonesia's protest this morning as a form of freedom of expression. The effects of the climate crisis and rising living costs are also among the president's concerns," Government Communications Agency (Bakom) Head Syahganda Nainggolan said in a statement on Tuesday.

Nainggolan was responding to a protest in which activists unfurled giant banners criticizing the government's climate policies and rising living costs at the Selamat Datang Monument in the...