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IS sympathizers will join anti-Ahok rally: Minister
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Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu speaks to journalists at his office in Jakarta on Jan. 12. (the jakarta post/Wienda Parwitasari)
D
efense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Wednesday that his office had received information that sympathizers of the Islamic State (IS) radical movement would join the massive demonstration scheduled for Friday against Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.
He declined to explain further about the IS sympathizers’ involvement in the demonstration, but the government was taking the information seriously.
“Any information regarding IS should not be ignored,” said Ryamizard, adding that the Indonesian Military (TNI) was prepared to deploy military personnel to back the National Police to face any potential outbreak of violence during the demonstration.
"We, the Defense Ministry and the TNI, are prepared," Ryamizard said.
The minister announced that the TNI and the National Police had talked about the procedures on how to secure the demonstration that according to the organizers would involve about 200,000 people from Jakarta and its surrounding areas.
Previously, the TNI announced that 500 military elite personnel from the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) and Air Force Special Forces (Paskas) would be part of the security detail deployed to secure the demonstration.
On Oct. 14, thousands went onto the street to demand the police investigate Ahok, accused by the protesters for committing religious defamation. Organizers of Friday’s protest said they would repeat similar demands. (bbn)
