Councilors ask for halt of rallies during Ramadhan
Councilors ask for halt of rallies during Ramadhan
JAKARTA (JP): City councilors have suggested that people
refrain from staging street rallies in the capital during the
upcoming Moslem's fasting month of Ramadhan.
The month of Ramadhan is expected to begin on Dec. 19.
When contacted by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, councilors Ida
Mawaddah Noor, Chaidir Fadhil and Sumekar encouraged the people
to channel their dissatisfaction through other means such as
discussions during the Islamic holy month.
Ida from the Golkar faction pointed out that Moslems are
expressly forbidden from getting angry during the month.
"Staging a street rally in the city would certainly cause
heavy traffic congestion which, in turn, could easily make other
people angry," she said.
"The fasting of Moslems would be considered incorrect if they
become angry," said Ida, who is also chairwoman of the Al Hidayah
Koranic recital group.
She said that Moslems are required to improve their self-
restraint and fight against passions during the month of
Ramadhan.
"I hope people are willing to respect it. So I urge Jakartans,
be they students, activists or from other communities, to refrain
from staging street demonstrations," Ida said.
"If people want to voice their frustrations with regards to
the current political or economic situation, they could organize
discussions or speak to the media," she added.
The capital, like many other large cities in the country, has
witnessed a series of street demonstrations which began early
this year.
Demonstrations reached a crescendo after the Trisakti
University shooting incident on May 12 and during last month's
Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.
Since then, street protests have taken place almost every day
in the capital. As a result, many streets have been blocked and
traffic flows diverted.
Councilor Chaidir Fadhil from Commission E for social welfare
said Ramadhan should not be contaminated by evil things.
He said he was referring to rallies which had turned into
riots and lead to looting, arson and general disorder.
"There are always people who attempt to provoke others. The
chances of this happening should be avoided during the holy
month," said Chaidir, who is also chairman of the Jakarta branch
of the Islamic Propagation Council.
Councilor Sumekar, who heads the Armed Forces faction in the
council, said he hoped that Jakarta would remain calm and
peaceful during the fasting month.
"I hope people will restrain themselves," he said. (ind)