TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Spokesman of the 212 alumni brotherhood (PA 212) Novel Bamukmin called for its members to avert from gathering at the Istiqlal Mosque during the group’s upcoming anniversary that will be held on December 2.

The reason for Novel’s warning is that he does not want his members to share a location with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo who will be present at Istiqlal on December 2 to attend a commemoration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Maulid Nabi Muhammad SAW).

“The event in Istiqlal will be attended by Joko Widodo. We don’t want the masses to be in the wrong place. Jokowi is different to us,” said Novel to Tempo today, asserting that the group’s political position contradicts the views of the president.

Novel added that the PA 212 will focus its mass-reunion activities in the Monas area. He even went as far to prevent masses to conduct prayers at the Istiqlal Mosque and urged people to pray at the open public field at Monas.

Moreover, Novel Bamukmin claims that the reunion will be attended by millions of people that will come from across Indonesian regions. The reunion of the group will be held concurrently with Jakarta’s routine ‘car-free day’ program on Sunday, December 2.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA