Rally Starts from Istiqlal, Ends at State Palace, Police Say

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan and Jakarta Military Command (Kodam) chief Maj. Gen. Teddy Lhaksamana W.K. attended a meeting with National Police's Criminal Investigation Corps (Bareskrim) director Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at the Bareskrim office in Central Jakarta.

"They were inspecting the preparation [for the November 4 Rally] and held a briefing about the routes to be passed by protesters," Ari told journalists on Thursday, November 3, 2016. 

Iriawan revealed that protesters will be concentrated at the Istiqlal Mosque in Central Jakarta. Others will be assembled at other mosques.

"Based on the plan prepared with rally coordinators, they will start the rally after the Friday prayer," Iriawan explained, adding that protesters will conduct a long march from the Istiqlal Mosque passing Hotel Borobudur via Jalan Pejambon.

Iriawan added that they will continue the long march to the Immanuel Church, the United States Embassy and the Vice Presidential office. From there, protesters will go to the City Hall at Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan and to Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat.

The final checkpoint of the rally is the Presidential Palace. Iriawan said that the rally should be concluded at 6:00PM Western Indonesia Time.

"Hopefully it will finish before 6:00 PM,"he added.

Iriawan explained that the rally was aimed at urging the government, either the President or his representative, to listen to their aspirations. 

REZKI ALVIONITASARI