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tudents and residents in Kupang city, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), grouped under the National Alliance (NA), have voiced their rejection against the presence of the Indonesia Hizbut Tahrir (HTI) Islamic group in the province.

They protested at the Kupang Police headquarters, Kupang Council, City Hall, NTT Council, governor'€™s office and NTT Police headquarters on Tuesday.

The alliance members are, among others, made up of the National Indonesian Students Movement, Indonesia Netherlands Christian Church, Masehi Injili Youth Church in Timor and NTT Anshor Youth Movement, the youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama, the country'€™s largest Muslim organization.

Alliance leader Adi William Frith Ndiy told The Jakarta Post that the rally was conducted in relation to information that HTI planned to hold a parade in Kupang on May 16,

'€œWe wish to remind the police and government to pay attention to and respond to the issue seriously. NA has made five demands,'€ said Adi.

First, he said, NA urged the police to disband HTI. Second, he added, the alliance firmly rejected all activities that infringed on the four national pillars: the state ideology Pancasila, 1945 Constitution, Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) state motto and Unitary State of Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

'€œWe remind that the gathering and procession that will be carried out by HTI in Kupang will obviously undermine interreligious harmony in NTT,'€ Adi pointed out.

Third, he added, the NTT Police as well as provincial, regency and municipal administrations across the province should not issue any permits to HTI to carry out activities in NTT.

'€œFourth, we urge the police and Indonesian Military [TNI] to arrest HTI members because they are clearly against and have threatened the existence of the four national pillars,'€ added Adi.

In the fifth demand, Adi said NA would take stern action against HTI.

Separately, NTT Police chief spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Santoso has urged the public to remain calm.

He added that police would immediately follow up with the five demands. '€œWe will hold a meeting with relevant institutions to maintain security and public order in Kupang and NTT,'€ he said.

NTT HTI chapter leader Said Made Amin said that a joint meeting with group leaders and committee members would be held in response to the protest against HTI activities in Kupang.

'€œI'€™m in a meeting. We will hold a press conference and I'€™ll contact you then,'€ he said.

This is not the first time HTI activities have been met with protests. In commemoration of Youth Pledge Day on Oct. 28, 2013, dozens of students in Kupang took to the streets to demonstrate again the presence of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and HTI.
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'€œWe wish to remind the police and government to pay attention to and respond to the issue seriously. NA has made five demands.'€