Bogor. After dozens of religious and political leaders called for peace ahead of Friday's massive anti-Ahok rally, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also offered the same advice, asking protesters to keep calm and not be afraid of using their constitutional right to speak their opinion in public.

The former president, popularly known as SBY, also slammed inaccurate intelligent reports that claimed certain groups and political parties are behind what the media predicted will be a frightening protest.

SBY, the chairman of the Democratic Party, made his comment after a coalition of hardline Muslim groups demanded the police investigate Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for alleged blasphemy.

The two-time former president spoke at his leafy home in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java on Wednesday (02/11) after meeting Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Chief Security Minister Wiranto the previous day.

SBY said staging a protest is never a political crime since the right to do so is protected by the law. However, he underlined that Friday's rally must be peaceful and not cause any damage to public facilities.

"During my 10 years as president of this country, there were protests almost every day. But, my administration didn't fall because of them. I was able to keep working and to keep the economy growing as well. My intelligence officials never reported anything inaccurate," SBY told the press at his home.

The former president criticized intelligence reports that claimed certain people, groups or political parties are funding Friday's rally, which will see more than 35,000 people take to the streets of Central Jakarta.

"Intelligence has to be accurate. You can't use sloppy intelligence that just throws around accusations. That's just slander. And slander is worse than murder," SBY said, quoting a line from the Quran.

"I have heard a lot of community leaders are advising against anarchy in Friday's rally. I totally agree, not only a hundred percent but 300 percent. That's my view and also the Democratic Party's view," he continued.

Friday's protest is expected to bring many Muslim groups to the streets of Jakarta, including the ubiquitous Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI. They will demand that Governor Ahok be brought to court for insulting Islam, even though he had already apologized to Muslims.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/yudhoyono-slams-inaccurate-intelligence-reports-fridays-anti-ahok-rally/