Indonesia protest attracts 200,000
Print Edition
AT least 200,000 conservative Muslims rallied peacefully in the Indonesian capital yesterday in the second major protest against its minority Christian governor, who is being prosecuted for alleged blasphemy.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, a political ally of the governor, who angered hard-liners by being out of the city during their first protest, unexpectedly went to the national monument to join Friday prayers with the sprawling crowd. He called for protesters to leave peacefully. They cheered and then broke into chants calling for Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja’s arrest, but later, people streamed peacefully out of the area and marched to a major traffic circle before dispersing.
The blasphemy controversy erupted in September when a video circulated online of Ahok criticizing detractors who argued the Quran prohibits Muslims from having a non-Muslim leader.
It has challenged the image of tolerance associated with Islam in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, and has shaken the government of Jokowi, who accused unnamed political actors of trying to undermine him. The son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is vying against Ahok for Jakarta governor in polls set for February.
Police said yesterday that they arrested eight people suspected of treason. National Police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said the group planned to use the protest to incite chaos and overthrow the government.
They included Rachmawati, the daughter of Indonesia’s founding President Sukarno and the younger sister of former President Megawati Sukarnoiputri; retired army General Kivlan Zein; and a well-known musician turned politician Ahmad Dani. Two other people were arrested for alleged crimes under Indonesia’s law on electronic information and transactions.
Organizers had agreed to concentrate yesterday’s protest around the vaulting monument to reduce disruptions, but the area quickly overflowed. National Police spokesman Rikwanto, who goes by one name, estimated 200,000 people were on the streets. Police put on standby 22,000 officers and 5,000 soldiers.
A November 4 protest against Ahok, the first ethnic Chinese to be Jakarta governor and the first Christian in half a century, attracted about 100,000 people. After nightfall, it turned violent, with one death and dozens injured. Police wanted yesterday’s protest to disperse in the early afternoon following prayers.
Lisnawati Djohar, a resident of West Sumatra’s Padang, said she flew to Jakarta with a dozen friends for the protest.
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