Jakarta Protests Against Governor Turn Violent

Uptodown-id - Jakarta Protests Against Governor Turn Violent

November 04, 2016 at 11:24PM

A massive demonstration in Jakarta against the governor turned violent Friday night when protesters burned police cars and officers responded with tear gas and water cannons. More than 50,000 people marched through the capital against Jakarta's governor amid accusations that he insulted Islam when he criticized opponents who used Koranic verses in their campaigns against him. Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok, has since apologized for the comments, but many are calling for his arrest under Indonesia's strict blasphemy laws. "It's no wonder people arise. Why when it comes to Ahok is the law not upheld?" said deputy house speaker Fahri Hamzah, speaking to protesters Friday. The demonstration remained largely peaceful throughout the day, and appeared to be dispersing at dusk when hardliners, dressed in white militant uniforms favored by Indonesian extremist groups, came to the forefront, hurling stones and water bottles and setting police vehicles ablaze just meters from the presidential palace. President Joko Widodo met with political and religious leaders earlier in the week to speak out against violence while police sought to ease religious tensions by calling for peace on social media. The police had prepared for the planned protest, deploying 18,000 officers throughout the city. Indonesia's military said it was ready to back police, and helicopters flew low over the protests Friday night as officers employed tear gas, water cannons, and truncheons. Solidarity protests were held in multiple cities across the country Friday. Purnama, Jakarta's second Christian governor and first from the Chinese minority, had accused his political opponents of using Koranic verses to put off constituents in the Muslim-majority country from voting for a Christian in September.

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