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Security eases at House complex
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Untouchable target: Cars transporting a TV station crew are parked in front of the main entrance to the House of Representatives complex on Saturday morning, several hours after thousands of protesters tried to break in after joining a large-scale rally. (JP/Safrin La Batu)
T
he situation in front of the House of Representatives complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, gradually returned to normal on Saturday afternoon after protesters who made a failed attempt to enter the compound decided to leave.
Dozens of people wearing white T-shirts and caps could still be seen in the area but said they were “about to leave”. Most of them came from other cities, including from outside Java, like Makassar in South Sulawesi and Bima in West Nusa Tenggara.
First aid officers in four ambulances were also seen at the location.
"We are preparing to leave. We have been here since yesterday," said Siddik Ansori, coordinator of the Solo Peduli volunteer group, which provided medical assistance to rally participants.
(Read also: Q&A: How did the anti-Ahok rally turn chaotic?)
Around 100,000 people from various Muslim organizations swarmed Jakarta’s streets on Friday to demand the criminal prosecution of gubernatorial candidate and incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemy.
The rally was peaceful until Friday evening, when some protesters refused to disperse although the time for the rally had ended. The crowd then moved to the House complex and was caught up in a standoff with over 1,000 military and police personnel.
After hours of negotiations, the crowd retreated and began to dissipate from Saturday morning. (hwa)
