Muslims flood Jakarta streets
Muslims flood Jakarta streets
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of white-robed Muslims from Jakarta
and surrounding areas rallied peacefully on Sunday morning along
the main thoroughfares of the capital.
Riding in trucks, buses, private cars and motorcycles, the
male and female Muslims from the Front for the Defense of Islam
(FPI) thronged Jakarta's main streets from 8 a.m. to midday to
celebrate the group's first anniversary.
The crowd carried no banners bearing political messages, and
concentrated solely on moral issues. They called on people to
stop gambling and consuming alcohol and drugs.
Chanting "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest), the FPI followers
waved the national's red-and-white flag and the group's green
flag.
Light traffic congestion occurred in some areas but no serious
incidents took place.
The parade started at Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta, with
participants from around the greater Jakarta area and other towns
in West Java joining the rally, which was a kind of show of
force, on the streets later.
"The theme of today's parade is 'Heading toward a new
religious Indonesia' as we address social problems like gambling
and alcohol," organization spokesman Mizbah Anam said.
The convoy of vehicles first roared along Jl. Sudirman before
heading to the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and Jl. Thamrin.
They then continued to Cawang in East Jakarta before reaching
the final destination in Ciputat, South Jakarta.
According to Anam, FPI is an independent organization and has
no affiliation with any political parties.
He said the organization raises its own funds through the sale
of FPI shirts and jackets to its members.
But Reuters reported that a small group from the Muslim-backed
United Development Party latched onto the rally, shouting their
support for President B.J. Habibie.
"We want a man as the president, not a woman," party
supporters shouted, a reference to Megawati Soekarnoputri, a
woman and leading opposition candidate in the November
presidential election.
The rally ended at around 12 p.m. with a speech from FPI's
head, Alhabib Muhammad Rizieq Syihab, who claimed to be a direct
descendant of Prophet Muhammad.
FPI was established by several Muslim leaders in Jakarta last
year on Aug. 17 as a response to the government's oppressive
actions against Islam, Anam further said.
According to him, within a year, FPI now has members in 15
provinces with members in Jakarta numbering 30,000 people.
He rejected the idea that the Sunday street rally would
generate an image of FPI as a fanatical Muslim group.
According to him, the FPI parade called for peace and not
trouble. (03)