ISIS Sympathisers on Anti-Ahok Demo Shouldn't be Ignored
ISIS Sympathisers on Anti-Ahok Demo Shouldn't be Ignored
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JAKARTA - Information if sympathizers of Islamic State (ISIS) radical movement would join the massive demonstration scheduled for Friday (4/11) against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) not be considered trivial by the Indonesian government.
Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said, he declined to explain further about the ISIS sympathizers involvement in the demonstration.
“Any information regarding ISIS should not be ignored,” said Ryamizard on Wednesday (2/11).
Adding that the Indonesian Military (TNI) was prepared to deploy military personnel to back the National Police to face any potential outbreak of violence during the demonstration.
"We, the Defense Ministry and the TNI, are prepared," Ryamizard said.
The minister announced that the TNI and the National Police had talked about the procedures on how to secure the demonstration that according to the organizers would involve about 200,000 people from Jakarta and its surrounding areas.
Previously, the TNI announced that 500 military elite personnel from the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) and Air Force Special Forces (Paskas) would be part of the security detail deployed to secure the demonstration.
Previous, National Police Chief Tito Karnavian said Indonesian police are expecting local sympathisers of ISIS to join thousands of Muslim hardliners at a protest against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama at November, 4.
Tito said that according to his knowledge, the local ISIS elements do not have plans to commit any violence, and he expects them to join the rally peacefully.
"But we are monitoring them very closely. We have got a specific unit in Detachment 88 monitoring them 24/7, just in case they are bringing any dangerous materials such as explosives," he said.
READ MORE: Watch Out, ISIS Sympathisers Riding Anti-Ahok Demo
On Oct. 14, thousands went onto the street to demand the police investigate Ahok, accused by the protesters for committing religious defamation. Organizers of Friday’s protest said they would repeat similar demands.
Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said, he declined to explain further about the ISIS sympathizers involvement in the demonstration.
“Any information regarding ISIS should not be ignored,” said Ryamizard on Wednesday (2/11).
Adding that the Indonesian Military (TNI) was prepared to deploy military personnel to back the National Police to face any potential outbreak of violence during the demonstration.
"We, the Defense Ministry and the TNI, are prepared," Ryamizard said.
The minister announced that the TNI and the National Police had talked about the procedures on how to secure the demonstration that according to the organizers would involve about 200,000 people from Jakarta and its surrounding areas.
Previously, the TNI announced that 500 military elite personnel from the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) and Air Force Special Forces (Paskas) would be part of the security detail deployed to secure the demonstration.
Previous, National Police Chief Tito Karnavian said Indonesian police are expecting local sympathisers of ISIS to join thousands of Muslim hardliners at a protest against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama at November, 4.
Tito said that according to his knowledge, the local ISIS elements do not have plans to commit any violence, and he expects them to join the rally peacefully.
"But we are monitoring them very closely. We have got a specific unit in Detachment 88 monitoring them 24/7, just in case they are bringing any dangerous materials such as explosives," he said.
READ MORE: Watch Out, ISIS Sympathisers Riding Anti-Ahok Demo
On Oct. 14, thousands went onto the street to demand the police investigate Ahok, accused by the protesters for committing religious defamation. Organizers of Friday’s protest said they would repeat similar demands.
(rnz)
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