Anies Baswedan`s Plan to Hold Mass Prayers at Monas Criticized

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan’s plan to hold mass prayers at the National Monument (Monas) square has been criticized because of possible violation against the Presidential Regulation No. 25/1995 on the construction and utilization of the Monas square.

Pitono Adhi, chairman of the Volunteers of New Jakarta Movement (RPJB) said that the use of Monas square should be based on the regulation and reported to the president. He reasoned that Monas is a symbol of the struggle of the Indonesian people and is a neutral zone. “It should be coordinated with an Advisory Board led by the State Secretary Minister and reported to the president, it was stated in article 8 and 9 of the presidential regulation,” he said in a written statement received by Tempo on Sunday.

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Earlier, Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno said that the administration is mulling a revision to a gubernatorial regulation on the utilization of Monas square for public activity. Sandiaga said that the administration had coordinated with the Presidential Palace but declined to divulge details about the plan.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan earlier announced that Monas square may be used for religious events. The first one to be held would be a mass prayer to commemorate the National Heroes Day on November 26.

Sandiaga had promised that an event to commemorate the Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday (Mawlid) would be held there, too.

“Governor Anies Baswedan ought to preserve and utilize Monas area only for activities adopting patriotic theme instead of ethnicities, religions, race and inter-group relations,” the activist said.

DEWI NURITA