REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said, there is a political element in the reunion of 212's rally staged in Saturday (December 2).
He assessed, the reunion has to do with the upcoming political agenda in Indonesia.
"This one will also be about politics. It must be about politics of 2018-2019," Tito said at Bidakara hotel, Pancoran, South Jakarta.
Political interest in last year's 212 rally was higher and obvious, Tito said.
He stated, the rally that took millions of people to the street targeted at the ruling Jakarta governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok).
Tito believed, the reunion will not be the same as 212 rally.
Therefore, he advised the committee of 212 rally reunion to held their activities in Istiqlal Mosque, Central Jakarta rather than in National Monument (Monas) area.
He called on the people to be reunited to vote for Muslim candidate in the next simultaneous regional elections. "The figure should be a devout Muslim," he said to Republika.co.id, on Tuesday (November 28).
The other agendas was to demand fairness in the implementation of the laws.
"We will gather to bind ourselves in unity as we did a year ago for upholding the law," he revealed referring to 13 national figures who were allegedly being criminalized.
The most massive Friday prayers
The people felt offended by Ahok's statement saying al Maidah verse 51 of the Quran is a false guidance for Muslims in choosing a leader and who ever conveys the teaching is a liar. They demanded equality before the law against Ahok.
The rally was initiated by National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Council of Ulama's Fatwa (GNPF MUI) as the ulamas believed Ahok had blaspheme the Quran.
Ahok, who was running for second term in gubernatorial election, defended himself. He said, people misinterpreted his statement.
He then lost in the election. Meanwhile, Anies Baswedan paired with Sandiaga Uno gained significant vote in winning the election.
On May 9, Ahok was found guilty as charged and sent to jail for two years.
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