TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Shopping Center Managers' Association (APPBI) said that Jakarta retailers will do their business as usual despite today's rally in the capital. Nevertheless, APPBI's board of supervisors' chairman Handaka Santosa said security will be tightened.

Handaka said on Friday, Dec. 2, that retailers want to keep serving customers and provide them with the goods they need. However, learning from past experiences, safety measures are increased. Security officers who are supposed to have a day off, for example, are asked to come in.

"We believe nothing will happen this time. But this is done to provide confidence to the whole team," he said.

On November 4 when the first anti-Ahok rally was held, a retail store was looted. Handaka said he is not worried that the incident will be repeated this time; placing his trust in the police's hands and other security agencies.

Today protesters are staging a rally at the National Monument's (Monas) complex. They started arriving this morning, crowded the streets around Monas. The crowd is demanding Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama be jailed for an alleged blasphemy.

VINDRY FLORENTIN