Over 2 lakh turn up at Indonesia blasphemy protest against Guv

At least 200,000 conservative Muslims carried out a peaceful protest against Jakarta’s minority Christian governor, who is being prosecuted for alleged blasphemy here on Friday.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, a political ally of the governor who angered hard-liners by being out of the city during their first protest, unexpectedly went to the national monument to join the Friday prayers with the sprawling crowd.

He called for protesters to leave peacefully. They cheered and then broke into chants calling for Gov Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja’s arrest, but later, people streamed peacefully out of the area and marched to a major traffic circle before dispersing.

The blasphemy controversy erupted in September when a video circulated online of Ahok, criticising detractors who argued that the Quran prohibited Muslims from having a non-Muslim leader.

It has challenged the image of Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation that practises a moderate form of Islam, and has shaken the government of Jokowi, who accused unnamed political actors of trying to undermine him.

The son of former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is vying against Ahok for Jakarta governor in elections set for February.

Meanwhile, the police  on Friday arrested eight persons suspected of treason amid speculation that they were plotting to undermine or topple Jokowi. They included Rachmawati, the daughter of Indonesia’s founding President Sukarno and the younger sister of former President Megawati Sukarnoiputri; retired army Gen. Kivlan Zein; and a well-known musician turned politician Ahmad Dani.

Two other persons were arrested for alleged crimes under Indonesia’s law on electronic information and transactions.

Organisers had agreed to concentrate Friday’s protest around the vaulting monument to reduce disruptions, but the area quickly overflowed.

National Police spokesman Rikwanto, who goes by one name, estimated 200,000 people were on the streets. Police put on standby 22,000 officers and 5,000 soldiers.

A November 4 protest against Ahok, the first ethnic Chinese to be Jakarta governor and the first Christian in half a century, attracted about 100,000 people. After nightfall, it turned violent, with one death and dozens injured.

The police wanted Friday’s protest to disperse in the early afternoon following prayers.

Lisnawati Djohar, a resident of West Sumatra’s Padang city, said she flew to Jakarta with a dozen friends for the protest.