Indonesia's minorities worry about security as a massive rally looms and legal proceedings against the Jakarta governor continue

Record ID: 75143

  • Title: Indonesia's minorities worry about security as a massive rally looms and legal proceedings against the Jakarta governor continue
  • Date: 1st December 2016
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (DECEMBER 1, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ABANDONED BUILDINGS IN CHINATOWN AREA ABANDONED BUILDING BUSY SHOP ALLEY PEOPLE WALKING AT THE ALLEY BUSY ALLEY WITH STREET VENDORS ELECTRIC STORE ELECTRIC STORE OWNER, HERMAN, IN STORE (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) STORE OWNER, HERMAN SAYING: "We still worry when we remember the May tragedy, now we worry about the protest that will happen tomorrow, all our colleagues who own stores in this compound still worry and are concerned about security, we still don't know if we'll open or close our stores. So we will see how the situation develops." CLOTHES STORES STORE OWNER, DIANA, TIDY IN HER STORE (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) STORE OWNER, DIANA SAYING: "I don't have any worries over the protest as the government has already given guaranties to their residents. It's a peace protest and a mass prayer, so we leave it to the government and security personnel." CLOTHES VENDORS ON ROAD SIDE ABANDONED BUILDINGS AND STREET VENDORS JAKARTA NATIONAL MONUMENT MONAS WHERE THE PEACE PROTEST WILL BE HELD TOP OF NATIONAL MONUMENT POLICE WATER CANNON PARKED BANNER AT MONAS FENCE READING (Bahasa Indonesia) "WE ARE ALL BROTHERS" EXTERIOR OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE JAKARTA GOVERNOR, BASUKI TJAHAJA PURNAMA ALSO KNOWN AS AHOK WALKING OUT OF BUILDING WITH HIS LAWYERS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) JAKARTA GOVERNOR, BASUKI TJAHAJA PURNAMA SAYING: "I only want to ask for prayers from all Jakarta people in order for this case to run fairly and transparently so my problems can be over and I can use my time to serve the Jakarta people better." ATTORNEY GENERAL SPOKESMAN MUHAMMAD RUM GETTING READY TO SPEAK (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) ATTORNEY GENERAL SPOKESMAN, MUHAMMAD RUM SAYING: "The charges he faces are alternative charges whether he is charged under article 156 which carries a maximum four years penalty or article 156A which carries a maximum five years penalty. We are also listening to what people say." MEDIA END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 16th December 2016 09:06
  • Keywords: Indonesia Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama investigation Chinese security protest
  • Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • City: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015B1X6IT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Some members of Jakarta's minority Chinese community were worried about security on the eve of a massive rally on Friday (December 2) calling for the arrest of embattled Jakarta governor loomed and legal proceedings continued following blasphemy allegations.
    Residents of Jakarta's bustling Chinese quarters were hard at work as usual on Thursday (December 1) but some were wondering whether or not they should close shop ahead of the rally.
    "We still worry when we remember the May tragedy, now we worry about the protest that will happen tomorrow, all our colleagues who own stores in this compound still worry and are concerned about security, we still don't know if we'll open or close our stores. So we will see how the situation develops," said Herman a store owner.
    In May 1998 a lacklustre economy, mass unemployment and food shortages in Indonesia triggered violent race riots around the country targeting ethnic Chinese and Jakarta's Chinatown was heavily affected.
    Muslim groups, led by hardline Islamists, have pledged to demonstrate peacefully in a central Jakarta park to call for the arrest of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is of Chinese decent and a Protestant, on allegations that he insulted the Koran. They will also urge voters not to reelect him in February.
    But some were not so worried of the situation getting out of hand.
    "I don't have any worries over the protest as the government has already given guaranties to their residents. It's a peace protest and a mass prayer, so we leave it to the government and security personnel," said Diana a clothes shop owner.
    Authorities are hoping to avoid a repeat of a massive anti-Purnama rally on November 4 when police fired water cannon and tear gas when it briefly turned violent.
    Purnama is facing a probe into allegedly blasphemous comments he made in late September about his opponents' use of the Koran in political campaigning. He has denied wrongdoing but apologized for the remarks which incensed moderate and hardline Muslims alike.
    Police on Thursday handed over the investigation to prosecutors who are expected to proceed to court in the coming weeks.
    "I only want to ask for prayers from all Jakarta people in order for this case to run fairly and transparently so my problems can be over and I can use my time to serve the Jakarta people better," Purnama said at the Attorney General's Office.
    "The charges he faces are alternative charges whether he is charged under article 156 which carries a maximum four years penalty or article 156A which carries a maximum five years penalty. We are also listening to what people say," said Muhammad Rum, an Attorney General spokesman.
    Authorities have urged the public to respect the ongoing legal process, but hardline groups like the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) have demanded Puranama be arrested.
    Simmering religious and ethnic tensions have prompted President Joko Widodo to rally top military, political, and religious figures in a sign of unity amid fears of attempts to undermine the stability of his government.
    The country of 250 million people recognizes six religions and is home to dozens of ethnicities and minorities that adhere to traditional beliefs.
    Purnama, popularly known as Ahok, is running for re-election in February against two Muslim candidates. The once popular governor has slipped to second place, opinion polls showed this week.
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