Agnes Anya and Liza Yosephine, Jakarta – In a rare sight during an election season, as many as 300 police personnel stood by on Jl. Raya Kedoya Utara in West Jakarta on Thursday, all to safeguard a gubernatorial candidate who wanted to reach out to his voters.
The police lineup extended up to 150 meters. The men were armed with helmets, body protectors, shields, batons and long-barreled weapons. Each of them was also equipped with 10 tear gas canisters.
Behind them also stood on guard other security forces, including policewomen with headscarves and a number of tactical vehicles such as a Barracuda vehicle and another equipped with a water cannon, kompas.com reported.
The large-scale security measures were taken to safeguard Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, who has been facing campaign disruptions and even security threats from Islamists who accuse him of committing blasphemy.But even with the presence of hundreds of security officials, the incumbent candidate still failed to campaign in the area as the police advised him to leave to avoid possible clashes with protesters, some of whom claimed to be members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI).
"We do not want to taint the election process with violence," said Bestari Barus, a spokesman from the Ahok-Djarot Saiful Hidayat campaign team, told The Jakarta Post.
The Jakarta Police confirmed that they decided to boost security for Ahok's campaign visit to Kedoya after receiving intelligence of a possible security threat. The police refused to elaborate on how serious the threat was.
"Basically, if we are asked about security, we will say that we deploy force based on how many people will come [to the area]," said the Jakarta Police's spokesman Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono.
Ahok has been dealing with animosity and protests during his campaign visits throughout the capital. Last week, for example, he became the target of an angry mob while he was carrying out a campaign stop in Rawa Belong, West Jakarta. Because of the mob, which turned aggressive, the police forced him to flee in a public minivan.
Some days later, more than 100,000 protesters gathered in front of the State Palace to demand that Ahok be prosecuted for alleged blasphemy. Earlier this year, Ahok talked about a verse in the Quran with some residents from Thousand Islands regency. These remarks set off a fire-storm of anger in the country after they were leaked online. The investigation into Ahok's remarks is ongoing, as promised by the government.
Aside from Ahok, Djarot also faced protests last week while visiting a fishing village in Cilincing, North Jakarta, on the back of protests over the eviction programs planned by the city administration.
On Wednesday, he confronted a dozen of men wearing Islamic garb in Kembangan Utara, West Jakarta. The men urged Djarot and his team to stop campaigning in the area and leave. Kembangan Utara and Kedoya Utara are known to be FPI territory.
Later in the evening, the team immediately reported Wednesday's protest to the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) in order to ensure security for Ahok and Djarot, as well as secure the team's ability to promote its programs for the city.
"[The FPI] was reported last night," said Bestari. "[With the report], we want to say that we have the right to campaign. If they don't like us, they can just not choose us."
Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) chairman Sumarno said it was up to the police to decide whether or not they needed to boost security for Ahok. "It is the police who must examine how precarious the situation is," he said.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/11/11/ahok-calls-campaign-despite-extensive-security.html