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Police remain on alert as Ahok trial goes on
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Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama walks past the panel of judges during his blasphemy trial at the Agriculture Ministry’s auditorium in South Jakarta on Tuesday. (hukumonline.com/POOL/Resa Esnir/via JP)
P
olice remain watchful in securing the blasphemy trial against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, even though the number of anti-Ahok and pro-Ahok protesters outside the Agriculture Ministry's auditorium, where Ahok is being tried, has decreased.
"The security will comply with our standard operating procedure. Even if there are only three protesters, the security will comply with the standard," South Jakarta Police spokesman Com. Purwanta said on Tuesday.
He added that thousands of police officers would be divided in four security rings that would cover the area inside and outside the auditorium, including the traffic around the Ministry of Agriculture's offices in South Jakarta.
The number of protesters on Tuesday was not as large as during previous hearings, which could reach 2,000.
Despite the decrease, police have installed fencing wire to separate anti-Ahok and pro-Ahok protesters. They were separated by about 200 meters to avoid clashes.
Meanwhile, Transjakarta buses serving the Ragunan and Agricultural Department corridors will not operate on Tuesday, due to the trial.
"Ragunan and Agriculture Department bus shelters are closed. The Transjakarta service is directed to the Agriculture Department traffic light, just like last week," Transjakarta operational director Daud Joseph said in a statement on Tuesday.
He added that passengers who take that route would only be served to the SMK 57 bus shelter.
