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Thousands of runners unite to promote tolerance
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People take part in a running event called “ToleRUN” in a bid to promote tolerance amid growing racial and religious intolerance ahead of the February gubernatorial election. They dressed in colorful attire to signify the diversity in Indonesia. (JP/wnd)
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housands of runners clad in colorful attire gathered at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) sports complex in Senayan, South Jakarta, on Sunday morning to join a running event promoting tolerance in Indonesia.
Runners from all walks of life and ages participated in the event called “ToleRUN” - a wordplay from the Indonesian word meaning tolerance, organized by one of the largest running groups Indo Runners, online media business Female Daily and other civil society organizations.
Participants either joined the 10K run, which started from GBK to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, before coming back to the finish line at GBK, or the 5K run, which began at GBK and passed by the Semanggi bridge before heading back to GBK.
“With the gubernatorial election getting closer, promoting tolerance is important to maintain harmony. We don’t want Indonesia to be divided,” Nadia Nasoetion, one of the event organizers, said.
Eli Tjhin, 55, who lives in Pluit, North Jakarta hoped that this event would remind Indonesians to embrace cultural, ethnic and religious diversity.
Another participant, Upik Siswati Muara, 57, who came to the event to join the 5K run with 11 of her friends said that hopefully there would be no more rallies over non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.
“We hope there are no more demonstrations. What’s the purpose of staging a demonstration again? Ahok has been named a suspect,” she said.
Muslim conservatives, grouped under the National Movement to the Guard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Edict (GNPF-MUI), have said they plan to hold a massive rally on Dec. 2 demanding the police detain the governor. (win)
