TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police spokesman Insp. Gen Boy Rafli confirmed National Police chief General Tito Karnavian commanded the assignment of hundreds of Brigade Mobile (Brimob) personnel from different regions to stand on guard in the upcoming joint mass organization demonstration on November 4.
Tito gave the instruction through Telegram letter signed by Jakarta Police head Insp. Gen. Unggung Cahyono and issued on Thursday (27/10).
"Yes, top alert, indeed, it (the telegram) is for internal National Police," Boy uttered in Mapolda Metro Jaya on Saturday (29/10). In the letter, 17 heads of Regional Police are instructed to send Brimob personnel.
Thousands of people from numerous organizations including Islam Defenders Front (FPI) will hold a march for the second time in DKI Jakarta City Hall and other areas across Indonesia.
They demand the police to arrest DKI Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama for religious blasphemy as he cited Surah Al-Maidah verse 51 in his speech.
In their first rally two weeks ago, mass planned to take Ahok’s life if the Police do not arrest him.
They also gave a deadline for the Police to arrest him, which is on the upcoming November 4.
The Police are not informed in how many people will join the demo.
To anticipate the march, in addition to assigning 17 troops from Brimob National Police and 12 troops from Brimob Metro Jaya Police, Tito also instructed Metro Jaya Police chief Ins. Gen Mochammad Iriawan to coordinate with FPI on their plans for the demo.
Tito further instructed Iriawan to communicate and cooperate with society figures, regional government, and other social institutions to ensure secure and orderly demonstration on November 4.
AVIT HIDAYAT