Bayu Marhaenjati & Nur Yasmin, Jakarta – As many as 48,000 police and military officers will be deployed to secure a trial to rule on the election dispute between losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and the newly re-elected president Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the Constitutional Court in Central Jakarta on Friday.
Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Gatot Eddy Pramono addressed the officers at an official ceremony at the nearby National Monument on Thursday.
The event was also attended by Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen. Eko Margiyono, Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and other high-ranking TNI and police officers.
Eko reminded the officers to stick to their chain of command to avoid being provoked by demonstrators, who are expected to come in large numbers on Friday.
"Watch out for provocations to try to divide police and military officers," Eko said on Thursday.
Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has also issued a warning that anyone involved in rioting during the Constitutional Court hearing will face the full wrath of the law.
Ryamizard said he did not want the police or soldiers being blamed for more injuries or deaths of demonstrators.
Traffic detours are now in place in areas around the Constitutional Court on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat in Gambir, Central Jakarta.