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Jakarta Post

Jakartans calm over rally plan

Liza Yosephine, Agnes Anya, and Viriya P. Singgih (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, November 30, 2016

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Jakartans calm over rally plan Muslim protesters march during a demonstration in Jakarta on Nov. 4. About 600,000 people are predicted to join a follow-up rally on Friday. (AP/Achmad Ibrahim)

R

esidents and workers in the capital say they plan to go about their normal activities when another large-scale rally demanding the arrest of incumbent Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama over blasphemy allegations is set to take place in the capital on Friday.

The National Police and Indonesian Military (TNI) are set to deploy 22,000 joint personnel to secure the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta, where around 200,000 demonstrators are expected to gather.

“We will also deploy personnel within the second and third security rings,” National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said on Tuesday.

Boy added that the personnel would not carry firearms during the rally, promising to apply a persuasive approach to deal with the participants in the demonstration.

The National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) has agreed to limit a planned mass activity on Friday to the confines of Monas Square, following consultations with the police and major Islamic organizations, including the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).

The police previously said activities would only consist of dzikir (mass chants in praise of God), sermons and Friday prayers.

Raksa Ibrahim, 31, a staffer at the Foreign Ministry in Central Jakarta, said he was not worried about the planned protest and would go to work as usual.

“Hopefully it will be carried out peacefully, that’s what most of us at our office anticipate,” Raksa told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

As a resident of Bekasi, in West Java, Raksa said he would leave home earlier than usual in anticipation of unexpected traffic congestion.

When asked whether the ministry had issued any warnings, he said staff had only been urged to avoid crowds and to not participate in the rally.

But some workers said they were still worried about going to work on Friday.

Anka June, 30, said she would likely stay home on Dec. 2 amid fears of the rally turning violent, like the Nov. 4 rally.

Nonetheless, she said, her place of work, which is located on Jl. Sudirman, had yet to take measures to respond to the planned mass prayers.

Similarly, Tito Dipokusumo, an employee of a telecommunications company on Jl. Thamrin, said he would work from home on Dec. 2.

“The prayers will hopefully be peaceful, but we need to stay alert. Anything can happen,” said Tito, adding that protesters may have hidden agendas.

Meanwhile, St. Ursula Catholic School will operate as usual. Brigitta Riska, 25, who teaches English at the school, noted that students were required to attend classes on Friday as they were undergoing exams.

“There have been no discussions regarding Dec. 2, let alone any announcement that the school will be closed,” Brigitta told the Post.

During the previous rally on Nov. 4, which turned violent, students were given a day off.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairman Rosan P. Roeslani said local and global investors had expressed hope that the rally would not turn violent.

“When they invested in Indonesia, they understood fully all the risks. So, the rally has yet to weaken their trust,” Rosan said. “The truth is, they are more afraid of the government’s inconsistent policies that might reduce their ability to produce and grow.”

Meanwhile, Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) president director Tito Sulistio said the bourse would operate normally on Dec. 2, as it had taken measures to ensure it could run business as usual. (cal)

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