At least 1,000 cars and motorcycles took part in a street parade to mark Idul Fitri eve in Kupang, the capital of the predominantly-Catholic province of East Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday.
The procession started at 9 p.m. local time on Jl. Urip Sumoharjo and finished on Jl. El Tari, under close police surveillance. Participants chanted the word "Allah" and set off fireworks.
Provincial police chief Brig. Gen.Yorry Yance Worang said that two thirds of the region's police force had been deployed to the city's streets for the Idul Fitri holiday, including Idul Fitri eve.
Yorry said the police officers were deployed to guard public facilities and help ease traffic during the parade.
In his Idul Fitri message earlier in the day, Governor Frans Lebu Raya called on people across the province to uphold harmony and peace, despite differences.
“I wish for all [non-Muslim] people to uphold peace and give a chance to our Muslim brothers to celebrate Idul Fitri as we did during the Ramadan fasting month,” he said.
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