TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian announced that his institution and the National Movement to Save the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Edicts (GNPF-MUI) have agreed on several matters in relation to the upcoming rally on December 2, 2016. Tito explained that after several dialogues, both institutions agreed that the upcoming rally would not be conducted at Bundaran Hotel Indonesia and in the vicinities of Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin.
“We have agreed that the upcoming rally will be conducted around the Istiqlal Mosque and the National Monument starting from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” Tito said during a press conference on Monday, November 28, 2016, adding that the aim was to maintain public order.
He added that the National Police would also provide logistics for protesters, such as clean water, toilets, wudu (Islamic cleansing ritual before prayers) spots, stages, and speakers.
“We will also provide barracks, with a capacity of 700 people, to accommodate protesters who want to get some rest,” he said.
In response to Tito’s announcement, GNPF-MUI coordinator Rizieq Shihab expressed his appreciation to the agreement. Rizieq guaranteed that the upcoming rally would be peaceful.
“The rally will still be conducted peacefully on December 2, 2016. It means that we will conduct worships and prayers without changing our demands expressed in the previous rally, which is to urge that the religious blasphemy case will be fully investigated,” Rizieq explained.
It was also agreed that other activities outside the agreed locations would not be considered as a part of the rally, and the GNPF-MUI would not be held accountable.
“If there are other activities outside the agreed locations, the National Police has the right to take anticipative measures,” he said.
Rizieq revealed that the National Police would coordinate with regional police not to ban people to joining this rally.
“Therefore, there will be no more protesters who walk to Jakarta as no transportation services are willing to take them,” he said.
INGE KLARA
