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)