I have directed the National Police Chief to immediately come down to the scene ..."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that the riot incident in Tanjungbalai City, North Sumatra, should be prevented from spreading to other regions in the country.

"I have directed the National Police Chief to immediately come down to the scene and settle the dispute by gathering the local figures to prevent religious and racial rumors from spreading wider," said the President in the National Gallery in Jakarta, Monday.

President Jokowi thinks that everyone should take a lesson from the incident by nurturing each other.

He also requested for all members of the public to prioritize tolerance among each other to prevent any dispute from happening.

The majority group should nurture the minority group and vice versa, we need to keep in mind that diversity is the strength of our nation," he explained.

The President hopes that a number of public figures that have coordinated through a meeting in Tanjungbalai will be able to settle the misunderstanding.

He further said that the government will take firm actions towards anyone who carry out anarchist acts including vigilantism.

Religious, racial and cultural difference issues need to be eradicated for the country to move forward and advance, President Jokowi noted.

A riot with a religious and racial background had previously happened in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra, Friday (July 28) evening.

Security officers including the Police and Military forces, along with local figures have settled the situation.

National Police Chief General Pol. Tito Karnavian said that the incident in Tanjungbalai was sparked by a misunderstanding between neighbors.

The misunderstanding was then posted to social media where the negative issue went viral, leading to the occurrence of the anarchist acts.

Tanjungbalai and North Sumatra Police have arrested four people suspected to be the perpetrators for the burning of worship houses on Sunday.

(Reported by Bayu Prasetyo/Uu.KR-ARC/INE/KR-BSR/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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