CONSOLIDATION, RECONCILIATION NEEDED FOLLOWING MASSIVE NOV 4 RALLY by Fardah

 Jakarta, Nov 10, 2016 (Antara) - In the beginning, Andreas Gunawan and Wiwid Margareta were worried and hesitated whether to continue their plan to wed in Jakarta's Catholic Cathedral on November 4, that coincided with a massive rally staged by Muslims.

       The country's oldest and largest cathedral is located across Istiqlal Grand Mosque, where hundreds of thousands of Muslims gathered and performed Friday mass prayers at noon, prior to staging a peaceful rally in front of the Jakarta City Hall and moving to the Presidential Palace. In the evening, the protestors went to the Parliament Building.

        As the couple decided to go ahead with their wedding ceremony in the cathedral, they were surprised and very pleased that police officers, together with protestors in fact, helped them reach the cathedral safely and smoothly, amid large crowds flocking in the heart of the city.

         Net.TV interviewed the happy and grateful couple on that day and reported that despite the presence of crowds in its surrounding areas, the cathedral operated as usual.

         Up to 1 million people turned up for the gathering believed to be the largest rally ever in Indonesia's history, although data on the exact number was not available. 
   The rally was called by the so-called National Movement of Guardians of Indonesian Ulema Council's Fatwa/Edict (GNPF-MUI) to demand justice and legal enforcement.

        Following Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama's alleged blasphemous statement regarding the Holy Quran, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued an edict that the statement was a blasphemy and should be processed legally in line with the country's existing laws.

        The governor popularly known as Ahok had apologized for his statement, saying that he did not mean to commit blasphemy.

        Prior to the rally, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) assured that demonstrations were democratic rights of citizens, but they did not have the right to impose their will or create damages.

        Jokowi said the government would guarantee the right to free speech, but it would also give priority to public order and security.

         "I have ordered the security forces to stay alert and perform their duties in a professional manner to overcome any anarchy perpetrated by any one," the president remarked.

        The large crowds who turned up for the rally, which included men and women from many cities across Indonesia, were beyond any one's expectations.  
   The crowds were peaceful and chanted praises to Allah, God the Almighty, and to His Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad, or listened to speeches given by several preachers and politicians joining the rally.

         Themed "Peaceful Action to Defend Islam and To Demand Justice and Legal Enforcement", similar rallies were simultaneously staged in other cities such as Solo and Kudus in Central Java, Malang in East Java, Kendari in Southeast Sulawesi, Makassar in South Makassar, Medan in North Sumatra, Padang in West Sumatra, and Samarinda in East Kalimantan.

        Noted Islamic preacher AA Gym from Bandung (West Java Province), during a dialog entitled 'After 4 11 Rally' broadcast by a private television network on Nov 8, said no person or organization whatsoever could mobilize such a big number of people to join the peaceful rally.

        Most of the protestors came at their own expenses and their own will, because of their conscience, and it was peaceful, beautiful and amazing, AA Gym said.

         He said he had come to Jakarta with 1 thousand people equipped with broom sticks and plastic bags to collect the litter left behind by the protestors.

        "If we didn't limit the number, at least 10 thousand people would have joined me," AA Gym said.

        The massive rally, in general, went on peacefully and smoothly until in the evening when a relatively small incident happened in front of the Palace, as several provocateurs attacked police officers, who later fired tear gas to disperse the protestors.

          According to data, 18 police officers were injured and some 160 protestors, including prominent Muslim scholars such as Arifin Ilham and Sheikh Ali Jaber, were rushed to Kemuliaan Hospital as they were hurt due to tear gas fired by security officers. 
    In fact, several protestors, rally coordinators and ulemas (Islamic scholars) were seen trying to stop attackers, and they were in the middle of the attackers and police officers to prevent any further attacks.

         Police arrested 10 alleged provocateurs during the rally, but later released them for lack of evidence. The police later questioned several members of the Indonesian Muslim University Students' Association (HMI) for their alleged involvement in the attacks on officers.

          Some 18 thousand police and military officers were deployed to guard the rally in Jakarta.

         National Police spokesperson Inspector General Boy Rafli Amar later told the press that the police officers were not allowed to use firearms to disperse the rally.

         "Police officers fired tear gas at protesters in front of the State Palace at around 19.30 pm. The protesters had been instructed to disperse," he said on Nov 5.

         President Jokowi, who sent Vice President M Jusuf Kalla and several ministers to receive representatives of the protestors,  later at midnight gave a statement expressing his regret over the clash incident as well as his appreciation to Muslim scholars, Habib and Muslim leaders who have maintained the rally in an orderly manner and according to the rules.

         He also said it was agreed in the meeting with representatives of the demonstrators that the legal proceedings against Jakarta Governor Basuki Purnama Tjahaja would be conducted firmly, fast and transparent.

       "I also appreciate the hard work of the security forces who held a persuasive approach in maintaining the situation so that it remained conducive," Jokowi added.      
    The representatives of demonstrators included KH Bachtiar Nashir of the Arrahman Quranic Learning, Ustaz Zaitun Rasmin of Wahdah Islamiyah, and Ustaz Misbah of the Islamic Defenders Front.

        The Head of State said that security conditions in the country were  safe and good in the wake of November 4 rally.

          "Neither is there any problem with political stability, so there is nothing to worry about. Yet, it still needs political consolidations and state consolidations," he said in a video conference with Indonesian citizens living in Sydney on Nov 6.

         House Speaker Ade Komarudin also praised the massive and peaceful  rally.

         "They maintained security, public order and cleanliness around the venue of the demonstration. This is a very good example," he said in a written statement.

         The November 4 rally showed that Islam in Indonesia is friendly, peaceful and seeks Rahmatan lil alamin (blessing for the universe), Komarudin stated.

         While monitoring the ongoing legal process of the alleged blasphemy case, every citizen of the nation must consolidate and reconcile for the sake of the national unity in the country, whose slogan is 'Unity in Diversity.'
   Another important aspect is that legal enforcement has to be  upheld and justice is served without discrimination.   
   No one should feel they have won or were defeated.

        Besides, every citizen has to be ready to accept whatever be the results of the police's investigation, which is promised be fair and transparent. ***2***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 10-11-2016 16:27:40