Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Massive Protest by Muslims Expected in Jakarta

by Reuters

   JAKARTA, INDONESIA --

   Thousands of hard-line Muslims are expected to take to the streets
   Friday to protest against the governor of Jakarta, a Christian and the
   first ethnic Chinese in the job, over claims he insulted the Quran.

   Jakarta police said dozens of social media accounts were discovered
   "publishing provocative statements and images" and urging people to
   take violent action in the name of Islam against Governor Basuki Tjahja
   Purnama, better known by his nickname "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.

   He added police were stepping up patrols and online monitoring in a
   "show of force" ahead of Friday's rally.

   Anti-riot policemen hold rifles during security preparations ahead of
   Friday's planned protest by hard-line Muslim groups in Jakarta,
   Indonesia, Nov. 2, 2016.

   About 18,000 police and military personnel will be deployed on the day
   of the protest.

   Little containment seen

   Critics, however, slammed Indonesia's government for doing little to
   contain the hard-line Muslim groups that have fueled religious and
   ethnic tensions ahead of next year's election for Jakarta's governor,
   which Ahok is contesting.

   "Indonesia's spineless political leaders have allowed extremists to
   seize the momentum and foment religious hatred against the governor ...
   for more than a month without challenging the substance or methods of
   their arguments," security expert Sidney Jones said in an online
   column.

   Police are investigating Ahok for alleged religious defamation, after
   he said his opponents had deceived voters by attacking him using a
   verse from the Quran. Ahok has apologized for the remarks.

   A spiritual leader for the protest organizer, the Islamic Defenders
   Front, insisted its actions Friday would be peaceful.

   "This is not anti-Christian or anti-Chinese action," Habib Riziek said.

   The group has had a history of vigilante attacks against religious
   minorities since it was formed in 1999. It has also frequently
   protested against Ahok.

   FILE - A member of the hard-line Islamic group Islamic Defenders Front
   shouts slogans after burning an effigy of Jakarta Governor Basuki
   Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, in front of Jakarta's city hall, Dec. 1,
   2014. Jakarta's first Christian governor in nearly 50 years took office
   despite protests from religious hard-liners opposing a non-Muslim
   taking over one of Indonesia's most powerful political jobs.

   Anti-Chinese feeling

   Indonesia's population of 250 million includes 3 million ethnic
   Chinese, many of whom are Christian. The community has faced
   persecution and violence in the past, most recently during the
   political and social turmoil that gripped the capital as authoritarian
   ruler Suharto was toppled in 1998.

   Hundreds of people were killed and thousands of ethnic Chinese fled the
   country as mobs rampaged through Jakarta, looting and burning
   Chinese-owned shops and houses.

   Some fear anti-Chinese sentiment and religious tensions are rising
   again ahead of the Jakarta governor election in February.

   The government has shied away from addressing the rising tensions head
   on, saying instead it is committed to protecting freedom of expression
   and assembly alongside Indonesia's diversity.

   Earlier this week, President Joko Widodo, whose ruling party backs
   Ahok, met with party leaders backing the two other candidates in the
   race, whose camps have been accused of using hard-line Muslim groups to
   fan tensions.

   In joint statements, these political and religious leaders urged
   protesters to demonstrate peacefully.

   Social media cited

   Communications Minister Rudiantara said the government was working to
   counter the online "hate speech."

   "Indeed, social media is contributing to the current situation," he
   said. "The president has made it clear Indonesia's unity is
   non-negotiable."

   The race to lead the sprawling capital of 10 million is often hotly
   contested, with top political parties jostling to get their candidates
   elected to a job that is seen as a steppingstone to higher political
   office.

   Widodo served as Jakarta governor for a year and a half before running
   for, and winning, the presidency in 2014. His rise brought back to
   power the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle, which had spent a
   decade in opposition.

   One of his rivals in the governor's race is the son of former President
   Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

   Ahok, who took over from Widodo as governor, has gained a reputation as
   a tough reformer and remains a front-runner in opinion polls.