TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
City hall increases security for mass protest against Ahok
Change Size
Members of Jakarta Police's bomb squad guard City Hall following threats of a bomb in the Governor's office on July 20. (Kompas.com/Alsadad Rudi)
S
ecurity authorities tighten security at City Hall for the demonstration initiated by hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) on Friday protesting the alleged religious defamation by Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.
As many as 2,241 police personnel are assigned to secure City Hall and 3,340 others are assigned to Central Jakarta areas where the protests would be held, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono said on Friday. Indonesian Military personnel are also assigned to security detail.
Barracudas along with other armored vehicles and fire engines were prepared this morning at City Hall.
Police predicted there are about 5,000 people expected to join the long march starting from Istiqlal Mosque to the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) Office up to City Hall after Friday prayer.
FPI Jakarta secretary Novel Bamukmin and several other civil organizations from Greater Jakarta, Banten and West Java plan to join the protest.
"The protest aims to urge police to act firmly and investigate Ahok as soon as possible," he said.
Ahok had been reported by a FPI member to Bareskrim over blasphemy allegations on his remark citing a Quran verse last month. (rin)
