Major rally set to hit Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Thousands of demonstrators are expected to hold rallies at the
\nHouse of Representatives on Tuesday in support of or against the
\ncontroversial education bill, raising fears of clashes between
\nrival protesters and severe traffic congestion across Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) secretary Din Syamsuddin
\nclaimed that one million Muslims would occupy the House compound
\non Tuesday if the bill was postponed.<\/p>\n
"We are expecting a crowd that reaches one million supporters
\nfor the bill's endorsement," Din, also vice chairman of
\nMuhammadiyah, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
Din said the crowd would consist of members of dozens of
\ngroups, including Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah -- the
\ncountry's two largest Muslim organizations -- the Prosperous
\nJustice Party (PKS), MUI, Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), Mosque
\nYouth and others.<\/p>\n
However, NU leader Hasyim Muzadi opposes the bill and has
\ndemanded changes to its contentious articles.<\/p>\n
Din said the protesters were expected to begin gathering at 7
\na.m. in the East Parking Lot of the Bung Karno Sports Stadium,
\nCentral Jakarta, from where they would march to the nearby House
\ncompound on Jl. Gatot Subroto.<\/p>\n
The protest is to put pressure on the House to pass the bill
\nwhen it convenes for a plenary session on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said police were
\nready to ensure security during Tuesday's protest.<\/p>\n
"The number of police officers deployed to secure the rally
\nwill depend on the situation in the field," he said, declining to
\nspecify numbers.<\/p>\n
He said police had yet to receive letters from those
\norganizations detailing their demonstration plans.<\/p>\n
"If the demonstrators fail to report their plans in advance,
\nwe have the authority to disperse them," Prasetyo said.<\/p>\n
Numerous groups have protested for and against the bill. Those
\nin support are mostly Muslim groups, while those opposing it are
\nmostly Catholic and Protestant organizations.<\/p>\n
Protests by rival groups continued in Jakarta and other cities
\nin several parts of the country on Monday.<\/p>\n
The biggest rally was in the Central Java capital of Semarang,
\ninvolving thousands of demonstrators. Similar demonstrations were
\nalso held in Medan in North Sumatra, Makassar in South Sulawesi
\nand Surabaya in East Java.<\/p>\n
The point of contention is the articles requiring all schools,
\nincluding private religious-based schools, to provide religious
\ninstruction for students from different faiths.<\/p>\n
Many private Christian schools have large numbers of Muslim
\nstudents and there is an apparent fear that those students may be
\nconverted away from Islam.<\/p>\n
However, the Christian groups see the stipulation as state
\nintervention in private educational institutions.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/major-rally-set-to-hit-jakarta-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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