The vice president watched the coverage of the massive peaceful demonstration ..."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla monitored the ongoing massive peaceful demonstration in Jakarta on via television.
"The vice president watched the coverage of the massive peaceful demonstration in the capital on national television at his office," a spokesperson for vice president, Husain Abdullah, said here on Friday.
Despite the ongoing protests, the vice president continued with his duties.
Before Friday prayers, he met Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi to discuss Indonesias preparations for the 2016 Economic Leaders Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) being held in Peru this month.
Thousands of people and members of Muslim organizations have congregated at the Hotel Indonesia Circle for a long march to the State Palace to protest against the statement made recently by Jakarta Governor Tjahaja Basuki Purnama (Ahok).
The protestors called for legal action against the governors alleged blasphemous statement concerning the Holy Quran.
They have converged here from various regions across the country such as East Java, West Java, Central Java, South Kalimantan and West Sumatra.
Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mochamad Iriawan earlier said that the rally started from the Istiqlal Mosque and passed by the Borobudur Hotel along Jl Pejambon.
From there, the cowd would continue its long march to the Immanuel Church, the United States Embassy and the Jakarta City Hall office. Eventually, it will reach the Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat before finally concluding in front of the Presidential Palace.
Police have deployed 18,000 personnel of the joint security forces to ensure the rally remains peaceful.
(Uu.A063/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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