It will only be a waste of energy."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) expects that there will be no rally on November 25 against the alleged case of blasphemy involving the Jakarta governor as it will only amount to waste of energy.
"We hope there will be no more any other rally," he said while attending mass prayers at Ecovention in the Ancol Dreamland, North Jakarta, on Saturday.
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Jakarta on November 4 to protest against Jakarta Governor Thahaja Basuki Purnama (Ahok) for his allegedly blasphemous statement concerning the Holy Quran.
The protesters came from various regions across the country, such as East Java, West Java, Central Java, South Kalimantan and West Sumatra.
The president said the November 4 demonstration was motivated by good intentions.
Under the law, the people have the right to stage a rally to convey their views and aspirations. Yet, the demonstrators must comply with the rules and are not allowed to indulge in anarchy, he stressed.
"We hope there will be no longer any more demonstrations. It will only be a waste of energy," he reiterated.
The president denied rumors that his presence at religious forums and meetings with ulemas and clerics in the past few days was part of efforts to stop any plans for a rally on November 25.
Speaking before thousands of people attending the mass prayer, he reiterated his commitment not to interfere in the alleged case of religious blasphemy.
"I have been stressing from the beginning that I will not interfere in the legal process in this case. Let us leave the case to the legal process," he noted.
(Reported by Hanni Sofia Soepardi/Uu.S012/INE/KR-BSR/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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