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Former terrorism convicts may join Dec. 2 rally: Official
Former terrorism convicts may join a large demonstration against non-acting Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on Friday, according to a counterterrorism official.
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Hundreds of protesters insist on staying on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, during a rally on Nov. 4. Police said Monday that several former terrorism convicts may a new rally planned for Friday. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)
T
here is a possibility that former terrorism convicts will join a large demonstration against non-acting Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, which is planned for Friday, an official has said.
“They are now in several spots. They are waiting for the right momentum,” National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Comr. Gen Suhardi Alius said on Monday, as reported by tribunnews.com.
Suhardi said some members of hard-line groups believed to join the demonstration were former terrorism convicts.
Similarly, Yenny Wahid, the director of the Wahid Foundation, claimed to have received information that several former terrorism convicts would join the event, which is organized by a group calling itself the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI).
“Based on our reports, people who used to be members of Al-Qaeda and new members [affiliated with the] Islamic State group [will join on Friday]. So we have to be alert,” said Yenny, the daughter of former president Abdurrahman Wahid.
Earlier in the day, the GNPF-MUI leader Rizieq Shihab, who is also the leader of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), met National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and agreed that the rally would be conducted at the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta.
The group had earlier planned to conduct Friday prayers along Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman as part of the rally to demand that the police detain Ahok for alleged blasphemy. (jun)
