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TNI predicts calmer than expected anti-Ahok rally
The Indonesian Military (TNI) shared on Thursday its optimism that the anticipated religion-driven rally on Friday in Jakarta would not be as massive as predicted earlier.
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On guard – Mobil Brigade personnel march in front of the National Monument (Monas) complex in Jakarta on Oct.31. Tens of thousands of law enforcement personnel have been deployed to Jakarta to secure the country’s capital ahead of a massive rally planned on Nov. 4. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
T
he Indonesian Military (TNI) shared on Thursday its optimism that the anticipated religion-driven rally on Friday in Jakarta would not be as massive as predicted earlier.
Islamic hard-line groups, such as the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), previously claimed that tens of thousands Muslims from outside of Jakarta would flock to the nation’s capital to take part in a mass rally to push for the National Police to press ahead with legal action against gubernatorial candidate and incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemy.
However, TNI spokesperson Brig. Gen. Wuryanto claimed that according to law enforcers’ observations as of Thursday afternoon, there had not been a significant influx of would-be protesters to Jakarta.
“There are some would-be protesters entering Jakarta but the number is insignificant. People already know [that the police investigation is still ongoing] and that could prevent them from massively storming the streets, as earlier predicted,” Wuryanto told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Ahok, a Christian and Indonesian of Chinese descent in the Muslim-majority country, has sparked uproar among Islamic groups and communities after he made a comment on verses in the Quran during his visit to Thousand Islands regency in late September. The police have so far received around a dozen reports regarding the case.
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said on Wednesday evening that the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) would summons Ahok for questioning next week in the blasphemy case.
(Read also: Police summon Ahok in blasphemy case, deny favoritism)
To secure Friday’s rally, the National Police will deploy at least 20,000 personnel, with additional support from the TNI, which will deploy 2,500 personnel.
Wuryanto has told locals to carry out business as usual on Friday.
“People should not be worried about the rally. Trust the TNI and the National Police to handle it,” he said. (hwa)
