Mass Gatherings Not Allowed on Election Day: Jakarta Police
Jakarta. The Jakarta Police have warned against any planned mass gatherings on the city's gubernatorial election day, slated for April 19.
"There is no need to hold demonstrations on election day," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said in Jakarta on Thursday (16/03).
Argo said that Jakarta residents are advised to vote for the candidate pairs they feel will do the best job and shouldn't, under any circumstances, be coerced into voting. He added that assuming any unofficial supervisory role on election day is prohibited.
According to Argo, residents should put their trust in the Jakarta Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu). The police and military will coordinate with the committee to provide security for voters.
The Jakarta Police, Jakarta Military Command, Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and the Jakarta Elections Commission (KPUD) will discuss security measures aimed at avoiding mass gathering on election day.
Police have also said they are working to dismantle any potential protests that might disturb public order or safety.
Reports received by the Jakarta Police indicate that a well-known religious organization is planning to hold a mass gathering, dubbed the "Al Maidah Picnic," on election day.
Tensions have heightened in the capital in recent weeks as religious and ethnic sentiments surrounding the Jakarta election have reached a fever pitch.
Some Muslim hardliners in the city have demanded the arrest of incumbent Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and have threatened Muslim residents who plan to vote for him in the second round of the gubernatorial election.
Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, is currently on trial on blasphemy charges, after he made a comment about a Koranic verse in a speech in October of last year.
He has repeatedly denied the charges.
The incumbent governor is competing with Anies Baswedan, a former education minister, as the election proceeded into a second round after no candidate won an outright majority in the first round election on Feb. 15.
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