TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Acting Jakarta Governor Sumarsono, also known as Soni, will deploy around 1,500 personnel from the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), the Fire Department, and the Transportation Agency to secure the upcoming peaceful rally to be launched on Friday, March 31, 2017.

"We will deploy 1,500 personnel in several spots," Soni said in Jakarta on Thursday, March 30, 2017.

According to Soni, the Jakarta administration will also deploy personnel from the health agency who will be on standby for 24 hours.

"We will serve [the rally participants] as long as they deserve to be served as good Jakarta residents," Soni added.

Soni explained that the Jakarta administration would not ban the rally because it is a mean of expressing aspiration regulated by the law. Therefore, Soni called on rally participants to maintain order and restrain from committing violations.

The Muslim People Forum (FUI) announced a plan to launch a rally on March 31, 2017, demanding inactive Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also known as Ahok, to be removed from his position.

Previously, the FUI, along with the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) and other mass organizations, launched a rally on February 21, 2017, in front of the House of Representatives' building. On November 4, 2016, a similar rally was held in front of the State Palace, which ended up in a riot.

FRISKI RIANA | AVIT HIDAYAT