Jakarta – Lawmakers said they will form a team to oversee police investigations into the violence that erupted at the end of a rally by Muslim protesters against Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in the capital last week.

Police have arrested several demonstrators suspected of sparking off violence during the rally on Friday (04/11), when officers fired tear gas into protesters who pushed and pelted rocks at police barricades.

Police have defended their move to arrest the suspects, saying they have followed proper procedures, a claim questioned by Muslim groups whose members have been detained.

Amid controversy over the investigation, the House of Representative's Commission III lawmakers now plan to form a special team to "ensure the legal process will run its course."

"The team will prevent people from meddling with the investigation," Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, a member of the commission which oversees legal affairs said on Tuesday in a statement.

"The team will make sure no one will be criminalized or made a scapegoat," the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party politician said.

Police are currently investigating at least five members of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI), one of the groups taking part in Friday's rally.

HMI secretary general Ami Jaya is one of them, accused of committing violence against police and could face up to seven years in prison under the criminal code.

Tens of thousands of Muslims protested against Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, accusing him of blasphemy for his remarks in a speech two months ago about how some politicians had referred to a verse from the Quran to warn people not to vote for him in next year's governor race.

Hundreds of protesters, as well as officers, were injured after the rally that also saw dozens of public minivans, police cars and military vehicles damaged, three of them torched.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/lawmakers-form-team-oversee-police-