"We estimate that three million people are taking part in this morning 212 Alumni Reunion, or the same number as that last year," Novel Bamukmin, chief of the event media center, said.
Bamukmin explained that participants had been arriving since Saturday from a number of regions. The organizers, he said, had prepared command posts to accommodate them at a number of mosques around Monas.
"This is a momentum of togetherness and peace," he remarked.
It is different from that in 2016 when the rally was held for the first time and was attended by about seven million as at that time there was a special moment.
"At that time we were focusing on the special moment," Bamukmin added.
The event this time, he continued, was an event of togetherness and was very important to be attended by Muslims. It is also related to the commitment of Muslims to keep the 2019 Presidential Election full of peace.
However, Bamukmin said there was no political agenda in this rally.
"There can be no flags other than the Red and White flag and the `Tawheed` flag," he stressed.
He also explained that the event is also used as a place for religious tourism that can be attended by followers of any religion.
In the meantime, Participants of the 212 alumni reunion rally who came from Jakarta and its satellite towns (Jabodetabek) thronged the rally places at Monas (National Monument) square Sunday morning.
Clad in white clothes, the rally participants came to Monas by public transportation and KRL electric trains.
On a number of thoroughfares, some participants who were going to take part in the 212 rally cane using motorcycles. They flew flags with tawheed words.
"I used a motorbike because my house is far from train station," Hanin (27) said. She who is a resident of Ciputat of Banten came to the reunion location together with her husband and two children. A white flag with tawheed letters was attached on her motorbike.
There were many participants went to Monas areas on foot. The participants mixed with other city residents who were jogging on Jalan MH Thamrin on the occasion of the routine Car Free Day.
The Chairman of the 212 Alumni Reunion Media Center, Novel Bamukmin, said the rally had no political purpose. It is basically a religious tourism and effort to uphold `tawheed` (faith in one God).
"There is no political element. We do not allow other flags to fly, besides Merah Putih and the Tawheed flag. We do not allow party flags," said Novel.
The 212 rally alumni was established to gather people who were involved in the rally on Dec 2, 2016 to call for the prosecution of then-Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok for blasphemy.
Reporting by Indriani
Editing by Sri Haryati
(A014/ )
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
