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'Anies for president': 212 rallygoers turn away from Prabowo, set sights on Jakarta governor
“Anies Baswedan is our president! The president of Indonesia!” some people in the crowd yelled.
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Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan delivers a speech at the 212 "reunion" at the National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta on Monday. (JP/Donny Fernando)
S
tanding out from a crowd of people who were mostly wearing white, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan took center stage while wearing his khaki-colored civil servant uniform during the “reunion” of hardline Muslims that call themselves “212 alumni” on Monday.
At the event, held at the National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta, Anies seemed to be presenting himself as the new hope of the 212 movement after Prabowo Subianto, a 2014 and 2019 presidential candidate, joined President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s Cabinet as defense minister.
Tens of thousands of 212 alumni attended the rally, held annually to mark a 2016 protest on Dec. 2 that called for the prosecution of then-Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for blasphemy.
People crowded both in and outside the square.
“We welcome you with open arms and happiness,” Anies said.
During his speech, he pointed out the importance of realizing unity and fairness to support the country's rich diversity.
"There cannot be unity in injustice, [...] so our responsibility is to offer justice to all Indonesian people,” he said. “This is what has become our focus in Jakarta; not only to build physical infrastructure but to ensure social justice for Jakartans."
