The gubernatorial runoff election has Jakarta wound up as fears of horizontal conflict loom following a clash between members of a hard-line group and its moderate rival.

Indications of outsiders flocking to the capital to oppose certain gubernatorial candidates has also fueled the tension.

Members of Barisan Ansor Serbaguna (Banser), the youth wing of the country’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), were involved in a clash with members of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

The FPI accused an NU figure of distributing gifts to people in return for support for Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.

According to the police, FPI members surrounded the residence of Ita Rahmawati, the granddaughter of NU co-founder Abdul Wahab Hasbullah, alleging her of campaigning for Ahok.

Banser personnel then reportedly came to Ita’s rescue, and retaliated by surrounding the residence of cleric Buya Abdul Majid, the head of FPI’s Jakarta chapter in Central Jakarta.

Clashes ensued near Buya’s house, and the FPI was outnumbered. Before spiraling out of control, the police jumped in to disperse the crowd, but arrested no perpetrators.

While denying Banser had any role in supporting Ahok, the organization staged a show of force later in the afternoon, attended by thousands of its members in an event it called the Humanity and National Gathering to commemorate the organization’s anniversary in Ragunan, South Jakarta.

The FPI later made a press statement condemning the attack and demanded the police detain Banser members accused of attacking its members.

“We also call on all FPI personnel and Betawi fighters to ensure the safety of our clerics until the situation in relation to the election is conducive,” said Buya.

The FPI has spearheaded a movement to prevent Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, from winning the election through provocations and mass rallies.

The police, however, have taken the incident lightly, and will not comply with the FPI’s demand for investigation into the attack.

“It is just a misunderstanding between the groups. The police arrived just in time to prevent the clash,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono said.

Authorities have stepped up security around the capital, as National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said more than 60,000 police and military personnel would be deployed to secure the poll.

Tito said special forces, such as the Army’s Kopassus, and the Navy’s Marine Corps would be on standby to anticipate any problems.

“There will be one police officer, one military personnel, plus other security personnel at each polling station,” Tito said.

Police assigned to secure the main gateways to the capital have prevented several people from entering who had intended on taking part in the Tamasya Al-Maidah (Al-Maidah Tour) -a movement that encourages large numbers of people, including those from outside Jakarta, to flood the capital and “guard” polling stations.

Named after a verse in the Quran that is often used by conservative Muslim groups to urge other Muslims to vote for political candidates of the same faith, the movement aims to mobilize at least 100 volunteers at each of around 1,000 polling stations they claim to be vulnerable to voter fraud on polling day.

Al-Maidah Tour organizer Ansufri Idrus Sambo said at least 100,000 people had joined the program.

“We’re here to prevent Ahok from winning,” Ansufri said.

Police officers in Karanganyar, Central Java, stopped at least 15 mini buses and 10 private cars from taking part in the Al-Maidah Tour.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who is also Ahok’s running mate in the election, has received reports that many of the tour participants have already arrived in East Jakarta, and has demanded that the authorities have them monitored.

East Jakarta is the most populated area in the capital, and will serve as the primary battle ground for Ahok and his rival Anies Baswedan in luring votes.

“I hope the authorities can guarantee there will be no intimidations in the area,” Djarot said.

Ganug Nugroho Adi, Suherdjoko and Agus Maryono contributed to the article from Surakarta,
Semarang and Purbalingga

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