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Police, military to deploy 22,000 personnel at anti-Ahok rally
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A military police officer observes a convoy of police vehicles after a consolidation between the police and the military, which aimed to protect Indonesian values of 'unity in diversity' in Tegal, Central Java, on Nov. 11, to prevent a mass rally in the capital Jakarta. (Antara/Oky Lukmansyah)
T
he police and the military are ready to deploy 22,000 joint forces to secure the planned Dec. 2 mass prayer at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta, in what is part of a movement calling for the arrest of blasphemy suspect Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.
National Police Spokesman Ir. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the personnel would be ready to deal with 150,000 to 200,000 demonstrators expected to join the prayer initiated by the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI).
"The officers will be centered at the Silang Monas [monument compound]. We will also deploy personnel within the second and third security rings," Boy said at the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta on Tuesday.
(Read also: Fadli Zon says cannot join anti-Ahok rally on Friday)
He further said the second security ring will include areas where government offices are located, such as Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara, Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat.
The third security ring will include other government offices and hotels, such as Jl. Veteran, Lapangan Banteng, Hotel Indonesia traffic circle (Bundaran HI), Tanah Abang, Jl. Abdul Muis and Jl. K.H Hasyim Ashari, he said.
The police will also cooperate with young people from several Muslim organizations to monitor for any potential public disturbances during the prayers, Boy said.
He added that the personnel would not bring arms during the prayer because they had promised to apply a persuasive approach to deal with the participants of the demonstration. (dan)
