Australians Warned to Keep Away from Jakarta Today
Jum'at, 04 November 2016 - 08:00 WIB
Australians Warned to Keep Away from Jakarta Today
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JAKARTA - Australians are being warned to stay away from a rally in Jakarta later today with reports extremists may use the protest to conduct acts of violence.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has said the protest in the capital should be avoided and Australians should consider the need to move around the city.
"We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia, including Bali," DFAT said.
The travel advisory also warned related protests could take place in other Indonesian cities.
Security has been tightened in Jakarta, a sprawling city of 10 million, and police have deployed armoured vehicles and armed personnel as the plan stoked religious and ethnic tensions in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
Jakarta police say they would secure 26 sites across the capital, with 18,000 police and military personnel to be deployed onto the streets.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on residents of Jakarta and its surrounding cities to go to work and school as usual on Friday, despite the massive demonstration against Ahok planned for that day.
“Those who work, go to work as usual and those who go to school, go to school as usual,” Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla told on Thursday (3/11).
Vice President Jusuf Kalla added: "The Government will listen to all opinions ... but I believe because the protest will be carried out on Friday, a holy day, protesters will be respectful. That is our hope."
![Australians Warned to Keep Away from Jakarta Today]()
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian made a similar statement, saying that the police had been in dialogue with a number of groups that would be involved in the demonstration, who were demanding legal charges against Ahok for alleged blasphemy.
“Insha Allah, the demonstration will be held in accordance with the law,” Tito said on Wednesday (3/11).
But some businesses have told employees to stay home on Friday, citing fears that violence could erupt during the rally.
Police said dozens of social media accounts had been found "publishing provocative statements and images" and urging people to take violent action in the name of Islam against Ahok, including calls to kill him.
"We have seen racially and ethnically divisive statements being spread online and there are indications many of them are anti-Chinese," said Jakarta police spokesman, Awi Setiyono.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has said the protest in the capital should be avoided and Australians should consider the need to move around the city.
"We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Indonesia, including Bali," DFAT said.
The travel advisory also warned related protests could take place in other Indonesian cities.
Security has been tightened in Jakarta, a sprawling city of 10 million, and police have deployed armoured vehicles and armed personnel as the plan stoked religious and ethnic tensions in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
Jakarta police say they would secure 26 sites across the capital, with 18,000 police and military personnel to be deployed onto the streets.
Meanwhile, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called on residents of Jakarta and its surrounding cities to go to work and school as usual on Friday, despite the massive demonstration against Ahok planned for that day.
“Those who work, go to work as usual and those who go to school, go to school as usual,” Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla told on Thursday (3/11).
Vice President Jusuf Kalla added: "The Government will listen to all opinions ... but I believe because the protest will be carried out on Friday, a holy day, protesters will be respectful. That is our hope."
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian made a similar statement, saying that the police had been in dialogue with a number of groups that would be involved in the demonstration, who were demanding legal charges against Ahok for alleged blasphemy.
“Insha Allah, the demonstration will be held in accordance with the law,” Tito said on Wednesday (3/11).
But some businesses have told employees to stay home on Friday, citing fears that violence could erupt during the rally.
Police said dozens of social media accounts had been found "publishing provocative statements and images" and urging people to take violent action in the name of Islam against Ahok, including calls to kill him.
"We have seen racially and ethnically divisive statements being spread online and there are indications many of them are anti-Chinese," said Jakarta police spokesman, Awi Setiyono.
(rnz)
