FPI members flock to City Council to protest Ahok

JAKARTA. The hardline Islam Defenders Front (FPI) fulfilled its promise to hold a demonstration at City Council on Wednesday.

Around 1,000 members, who wore white uniforms and brought banners reading “Hey Ahok, shut your mouth!”, arrived at the building on Jl. Kebon Sirih in Central Jakarta at 11 a.m., after starting their march from FPI headquarters on Jl. KS Tubun, Petamburan in West Jakarta at 9 a.m.

After demonstrating at the council building, they planned to continue to City Hall to look for Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.

The hardline group held the demonstration to show its rejection of Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent who will replace Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, a Muslim of Javanese descent, as governor of Jakarta when the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) inaugurates Jokowi as the country’s seventh president on Oct. 20.

“We have deployed 545 police personnel to guard the demonstration,” said Jakarta Police deputy chief Sr. Comr. Umar Fana on Wednesday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Rikwanto previously said that his institution would deploy 300 police officers to secure City Hall in anticipation of possible legal violations that could be committed by members of FPI.

He said that the police had instructed FPI to carry out a peaceful demonstration when the latter reported its plan to the authorities.

“We have told them [FPI officials] that they may not bring sharp weapons and other dangerous tools. We have also instructed them not to take anarchic actions,” Rikwanto said, as quoted by Antara news agency. He said that the police would take firm action against FPI if their instructions were not obeyed by its members.

FPI head Salim Alattas previously claimed 2,000 people would take part in the demonstration.

He said that Ahok did not deserve to lead Jakarta because he was not only Christian and Chinese, but also arrogant and ignorant.

FPI has been urging the Home Affairs Ministry and the Jakarta City Council not to name Ahok governor. The hardline group, like the Red-and-White Coalition led by losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, demands that the council choose another person for the job, or allow a public referendum. (alz)