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Riau Police dispatch personnel to secure 313 rally
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Show of force -- Hundreds of Islam Defenders Front (FPI) members stage a rally in front of the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta on Jan. 16.
(Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he Riau Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) has deployed 200 officers in two company-level units to help secure a mass rally in Jakarta on Friday being held by Islamic organizations supposedly to ‘defend Islam’.
Brimob division head Sr. Comr. Pradah Pinunjul said the deployment of the personnel was based on a request from the Jakarta Police. It was aimed at strengthening security forces preparing for the March 31 rally, which would call for the dismissal of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama over alleged blasphemy.
“They have been dispatched using a chartered flight,” Pradah said on Thursday.
He said the officers, led by the Riau Police’s Brimob Detachment B deputy commander Comr. Raden Edi Saputra, would be readied in several locations, such as at the East Jakarta Police station, the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) campus, the PGC Cililitan shopping center and the Jatinegara Sports Stadium.
“They will be deployed under the operation control of the Jakarta Police until next week, but that could be extended. It depends on the police’s decisions involving the latest developments in the field. We have only helped by providing the personnel they requested,” said Pradah.
“Hopefully, the rally will run safely and orderly and the security measures can run smoothly,” he added. (ebf)
