Jakarta – An alliance of Jakarta youth organizations has formed quick-response teams in several districts across the city to help citizens facing intimidation and persecution from various parties.
"The teams are spread across 44 districts in Jakarta. They will respond to any requests or signs of persecution, intimidation or terror," Anwar Sjani, secretary of the NasDem Youth Guard's Jakarta chapter, said on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com.
In addition to the NasDem Party youth wing, other organizations to join the initiative include the Jakarta Youth Alliance, the Communication Forum of Indonesian Veterans' Children (FKPPI) Jakarta chapter, and Jakarta chapter of GP Ansor, the youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization.
Previously, an anti-persecution coalition of NGOs had formed a crisis center to protect and provide legal assistance to victims of intimidation and persecution.
The latest case included a 15-year-old boy of Chinese descent from East Jakarta, who was filmed being harassed by men claiming to be members of the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI). The boy had allegedly posted comments on his Facebook page criticizing FPI leader Rizieq Shihab.
Rizieq has been named a suspect in a pornography case and is currently on the police's wanted list after failing to answer two summonses for questioning. (kuk)