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Anies urges government to expose riot provocateurs
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Popularity war: Pairs of Jakarta gubernatorial hopefuls are ready to compete in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial elections. Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama (upper left) is paired with Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat (bottom left), former Education and Culture Minister Anies Baswedan (upper center) is paired with businessman Sandiaga Uno (bottom center) and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (upper right) is paired with senior city official Sylviana Murni. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
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The rally, which saw over 100,000 people swarm Jakarta streets, was organized by multiple Muslim groups to demand the criminal prosecution of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for allegedly insulting verses in the Quran.
Anies said on Saturday that he hoped that the government could resolve the issue as soon as possible and the clash would not happen again.
He also said he hoped the government would enforce the agreement between the protesters and the government on the blasphemy case.
“Therefore, we can continue our daily activities as usual,” he said, as quoted by kompas.com.
The rally initially ran peacefully but violence broke out after dusk when a group of protesters, allegedly members of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) and the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), started to throw bottled water and stones and began attacking police personnel.
Shortly after midnight, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo held a press conference, during which he accused "political actors" of taking advantage of the situation.
Anies previously served as Education and Culture Minister under Jokowi's presidency but was ousted in the second Cabinet reshuffle in late July.
Anies, Ahok and Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the eldest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, are currently running as official candidates in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election. (cor/hwa)
