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Police to reroute traffic around Monas during anti-Ahok rally
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Security concerns: National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian (left) wipes his forehead as Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin (center) and Islam Defenders Front (FPI) chairman Rizieq Shihab look on during a press conference at the MUI in Jakarta on Monday. Police will reroute traffic around the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta during the planned prayer on Friday. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he National Police will reroute traffic around the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Dec. 2 to prevent congestion during the mass prayer organized by conservative Muslim groups that have urged the arrest of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemy, a police spokesman has said.
“Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat will be closed on Nov. 2 and the traffic flow will be rerouted," National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said on Tuesday.
(Read also: Police give go-ahead for large-scale rally on Dec. 2)
Boy said the traffic flow to the Kota downtown area in West Jakarta will be diverted to Jl. Budi Kemuliaan, Jl. Abdul Muis, Jl. Harmoni and Jl. Gadjah Mada.
Meanwhile, the traffic flow from the northern to southern part of the Monas area will be diverted to Jl. Veteran, Lapangan Banteng park and Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur. The rerouting of traffic will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Boy said.
On Monday, the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GMPF-MUI) announced that they would conduct the mass prayer at Monas on Friday, instead of conducting it along Jl. MH. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.
GNPF-MUI advisory chairman Rizieq Shihab, who is also the leader of the Islam Defender Front (FPI), said the police will be allowing the rally to take place at Monas.
Monas park management said up to 600,000 people will participate in the rally, but police estimated the number to be closer to 150,000 to 200,000 people. (jun)
