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Police ready to secure labor, anti-Ahok rallies
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Religious protest – Thousands of people led by the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Council of Ulema's Fatwa (GNPF MUI) stage a massive rally in protest against Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s alleged blasphemous remarks in Jakarta on Nov. 4. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)
T
he National Police say they are ready to secure a labor rally planned for Jakarta on Dec. 2 despite the police’s suggestion that would-be protesters reschedule their demo to clear the way for a mass gathering being held on the same day calling for the arrest of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in a blasphemy case.
“We have tried to urge them [labor union leaders] to reschedule. However, they’ve insisted on going ahead with their rally, so all we can do is serve them,” National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said on Wednesday.
Boy said that 22,000 personnel would be deployed across the city to secure the mass gathering at the National Monument Square in Central Jakarta, and the labor protest, initiated by the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Unions (KSPI).
Around 10,000 workers, Boy said, would flock to an area in front of the City Hall, as the area in front of the State Palace would be closed to accommodate the mass gathering in Monas, which is expected to see over 100,000 people performing mass Friday prayers.
On Monday, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian suggested the KSPI reschedule its protest so it would not disrupt the solemnity of the mass prayers.
KSPI chairman Said Iqbal, however, rejected that suggestion.
“The workers will continue to protest on Dec. 2. From the beginning, we have declared that our action will be separate from the GNPF-MUI [organizers of the anti-Ahok event] although we also want Ahok to be arrested,” he said on Tuesday. (hwa)
