Lawmaker Says December Mass Protest Will Harm the Nation

Jakarta. Golkar Party lawmaker Fayakhun Andriadi said the mass protest rally planned for Dec. 2 constitutes a threat to the nation because it will not only affect the security situation but also jeopardize economic stability.
"This is what I am worried about. It will have a negative impact on the stock market – the Jakarta Composite Index [JCI] – as well as the value of the rupiah and investor confidence. If this happens, it will harm the state and harm the people," Fayakhun said in Jakarta on Tuesday (22/11).
The House of Representatives Commission I member said the Indonesian people have reached a sufficient level of political maturity not to be easily provoked by attempts to destroy national unity.
"I think everyone is smarter. Indonesians are smarter about what is going on; how this [situation] may develop; who is targeted; how, and by whom. There are lots of question marks," Fayakhun said.
He said the protestors' previous demands that inactive Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama should be prosecuted for allegedly blasphemy have been met.
"[The protest] back then was only about one question: whether Ahok committed blasphemy as accused, or not. I personally think not," he said.
However, the lawmaker said he does not oppose the planned rally by an organization calling itself the National Fatwa Guardians of the Indonesian Ulema Council, or GNPF-MUI.
"Protests are allowed. People may rally after obtaining permission. But I reiterate that [Ahok's] status is still that of a suspect, as there has been no verdict in the case yet," Fayakhun said.
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