Jakarta. Police blocked roads leading to the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Friday afternoon (04/11), as thousands of protesters were marching towards the complex in a rally against Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

Departing from the nearby Istiqlal Mosque, demonstrators from several Muslim groups were facing shields and armored vehicles belonging to the police's mobile brigade, or Brimob.

"We stand united. We can't be defeated," the protesters chanted as they waved their organizations' flags, raised banners and clapped their hands.

The protest leaders had to call on demonstrators to remain calm when some in the front tried to break through a police barricade.

The authorities have deployed tens of thousands of security officers to safeguard the rally, amid fears that it might turn violent, as has happened in the recent past.

Having put the public on high alert over the past few days, the demonstration, led by the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), had been relatively peaceful.