Jakarta braces for rally, gridlock

JAKARTA. Since the Reform Era, the capital has seen more than its fair share of street protests and as most Jakartans well know, often the worst thing that results from a demonstration is severe gridlock.

To deal with the possibility of serious congestion, city authorities have prepared measures to ensure that people in the city can go about their usual business in the midst of the planned street protest, organized by Muslim groups demanding criminal prosecution against incumbent Jakarta GovernorBasuki Tjahaja “Ahok” Purnama, who they accuse of committing blasphemy.

Operators of public transportation services like city-owned bus operator Transjakarta and the commuter train line, alongside most taxi companies, have said they will run their operations as usual.

Meanwhile, to deal with a massive concentration of protesters at some key spots in the capital, which could result in traffic congestion, the Jakarta Police have prepared measures to reroute traffic in six locations.

“The rerouting will depend on the situation based on the dynamics and developments on the ground,” Jakarta Police traffic unit head Adj. Sr. Comr. Budiyanto said on Thursday.

The Jakarta Police expect that the protest will take place on the streets near Istiqlal Mosque, around the House of Representatives complex in Senayan, at City Hall, near the State Palace and around the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) on Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur, where Ahok is expected to be questioned on Nov. 7. The protesters are also expected to march along Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta.

If the rally is staged at Bareskrim’s office, traffic heading toward Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur from Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Kebon Sirih and Jl. Budi Kemuliaan will be diverted to Jl. Cikini Raya and Jl. Thamrin.

And if the protesters stage their rally in front of City Hall, traffic from Jl. Gunung Sahari and Jl. Veteran Raya will be rerouted to Jl. Cikini Raya, while traffic from Jl. Budi Kemuliaan will be switched to Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat.

Meanwhile, if demonstrations take place in front of the State Palace, traffic from Jl. Gajah Mada will be diverted to Jl. Juanda or Jl. Pejambon. Traffic from Jl. Budi Kemuliaan will have to make a detour through Jl. Majapahit, while traffic from Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan will have to use Jl. MH Thamrin or Jl. Ridwan Rais.

Once congestion forms on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, the traffic flow from Semanggi to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle will be diverted to Jl. Sutan Syahrir or Jl. Imam Bonjol. Should there be congestion around Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin, Jl. Semanggi will be used as a diversionary route, where vehicles from Kuningan will have to use Slipi or the toll road and motorists from Slipi will have to use Jl. Kuningan.

Should congestion occur around the House complex, traffic from Cawang will be diverted to Jl. Gerbang Pemuda or Jl. Permata Hijau. The flow from the west will be directed toward the Semanggi exit.

To deal with possible security disturbances, authorities will deploy 20,000 security personnel from the Jakarta Police to guard key sites such as the State Palace and City Hall. The police will be supported by 2,500 personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI).

The TNI has claimed that the crowd gathering for Friday’s protest will be smaller than expected as indicated by the absence of a significant influx of would-be protesters to Jakarta from the regions.

“There are some would-be protesters entering Jakarta but the number is insignificant. People already know [that the police investigation is ongoing]. This might dissuade them from massively storming the streets, as earlier predicted,” said TNI spokesperson Brig. Gen. Wuryanto.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has vowed to take firm measures against protesters who violate the law during the planned rally, warning them that the rally must wrap up by 6 p.m. as allowed by the permit.

In an apparent gesture to calm tensions, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo staged a photo op with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on the veranda of the Presidential Palace on Thursday afternoon.

For Jakartans thinking about taking a day off work on Friday, Jokowi urged all government offices to operate normally, adding that he would also work as usual from the State Palace on Friday.

“Go to work as usual. [Students] go school as usual,” Jokowi said, followed with a chuckle. (Haeril Halim and Agnes Anya)