TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Police Chief, General Tito Karnavian got yelled at by the Jakarta rally protesters when he was speaking in front of the Super Peaceful Act crowd, on Friday, December 2, 2016. Tito originally intended to deliver an opening speech as a Police Chief.
Tito, who was wearing his police outfit and an Islamic top hat, was given a turban from one of the religious figures. Since that, yells started to arise from the thousands of people present in the December 2 rally. They chanted,”get off, get off [the stage].”
Tito, in his speech, expressed his respect and amazement upon witnessing the rally taking place. “Today is like a hajj procession in the fields of Arafah (Mekkah),” Tito said. But his speech was once again lost under the chants and yells of the protesters.
The Chairman of the National Movement Guards MUI Fatwa, Bachtiar Natsir had to take over the situation and tried to persuade the crowd to stay calm. “We’re respecting a state symbol,” He said.
The crowd replied back by chanting “Arrest Ahok”. Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama is the current non-active Jakarta Governor in the alleged case of blasphemy.
EGI ADYATAMA
