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No anarchy in upcoming Jakarta rally: President
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Thousands of people protest on Jl. Merdeka Timur, Central Jakarta, on Oct. 14. The protesters will return to the streets on Nov. 4 in protest of a statement Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama made in which he cited a verse from the Quran. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called for people who plan to participate in a rally in Jakarta on Friday to do so in a peaceful manner and avoid actions that disrupt public order.
Thousands of members of Islamic organizations are scheduled to take to the streets of the capital in protest of a statement made by Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama they deem as religious blasphemy.
"Holding demonstrations is a democratic right of the people of this nation, but they should not be intrusive or destructive, or cause anarchy," Jokowi said on Monday.
Jokowi said the government would guarantee Indonesians' rights to express their opinions as long as the protesters respected public order, adding that security personnel would be deployed to secure the rally.
He further called for all parties to remain vigilant and uphold ethics when expressing their thoughts through social media, especially since the law had set regulations in regard to the matter.
The Nov. 4 rally will be the second demonstration against the governor following one held in October in which Islamic hard-liners pushed for legal proceedings against Ahok.
The protestors urged the police to charge Ahok, who is on campaign leave, with religious blasphemy, in relation to a statement in which Ahok cited a verse from the Quran.
Ahok has apologized for the statement. (bbn)
