"The condition is still under control," the Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Inspector General M Iriawan said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The security situation in Jakarta remained under control without any significant disturbance during a rally held to back the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI)s edict on alleged blasphemy involving Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok), police said.
"The condition is still under control," the Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Inspector General M Iriawan said on Friday.
Iriawan said some demonstrators from the Islamic Student Association (HMI) had pelted some objects at security personnel, but the incident could be handled properly by security personnel. Therefore, it did not lead to a clash, he added.
Meanwhile, several representatives of the rally, including the Chief of the National Movement Supporting MUIs Edict (GNPP-MUI) Bachtiar Nasir and Deputy Chairman Zaitun Rasmin, and several national political figures marched to the Presidential Palace.
The coordinators of the rally wished to meet President Joko Widodo to submit a petition related to the rally themed "Peaceful Rally to Defend Islam, Uphold Justice through the Supremacy of Law."
However, the president was not at the palace. Instead, he assigned Vice President Jusuf Kalla to meet the representatives of demonstrators to submit the petition.
More than 100 thousand people took part in the rally.
The rally was organized to protest against the Jakarta governors alleged blasphemous statement concerning the Holy Quran.
The protesters have come from various regions across the country, such as East Java, West Java, Central Java, South Kalimantan and West Sumatra.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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