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Parties launch diversity campaign, counter anti-Ahok rally
In an apparent move to tone down the country’s escalating political and religious tensions, the Golkar Party and NasDem Party organized on Sunday a mass gathering event in Jakarta to promote tolerance amid diversity.
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Unity in diversity: On-duty police officers pose with Car Free Day participants in Jakarta on Sunday during the “Kita Indonesia” (We are Indonesia) event organized by political parties backing Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for next year's gubernatorial election. (Photo courtesy of @TMCPoldaMetro/Twitter)
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n an apparent move to tone down the country’s escalating political and religious tensions, the Golkar Party and NasDem Party on Sunday organized a mass gathering in Jakarta to promote tolerance amid diversity.
The so-called “Kita Indonesia” (We are Indonesia) event was held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin, alongside the weekly Car Free Day program.
Thousands of people attended the event, during which cultural performances from various provinces, including Bali, East Java, North Sumatra and East Kalimantan, were presented on 10 stages.
NasDem executive Taufik Basari denied the event was aimed at countering a recent series of rallies organized by conservative Muslim groups to demand the arrest over alleged blasphemy of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who is seeking reelection.
At the same time, however, he said: “We want to remind the public that we are a pluralistic nation and encourage public and political figures not to disseminate hatred.”
Taufik also serves as a spokesperson for Ahok’s campaign team.
On Friday, more than 500,000 people flocked to the National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta to join a mass prayer pushing for Ahok’s arrest.
Ahok, a Christian and Indonesian of Chinese descent in a Muslim-majority country, has sparked uproar among Islamic groups after he made a comment about a Quranic verse during his visit to Thousand Islands regency in late September.
Golkar and NasDem, along with the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Hanura Party, are backing Ahok in the upcoming gubernatorial election, to be held on Feb, 15. (adt/hwa)
