FPI Organizes Rally To Oppose Ahok's Appointment As Governor

Jakarta, Nov 10 (Antara) - The Front for the Defense of Islam (FPI) staged a rally here on Monday as a mark of protest against the appointment of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, alias Ahok, as Jakarta governor. "The rally today is being held by the FPI and the Jakarta Community Forum marching from Hotel Indonesia (HI) Circle to the City Hall," remarked Senior Commissioner Rikwanto, a spokesman of the Jakarta Police. Some two thousand people of the FPI and the Jakarta Community Forum were expected to partake in the rally. Over the past few weeks, the FPI has been organizing Friday rallies at the Jakarta Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) building, to voice its rejection to acting Jakarta governor Ahok`s appointment as Jakarta governor after former governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was sworn in as Indonesia`s president. Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Unggung Cahyono was expected to personally supervise one thousand police officers guarding the security condition during the rally, he stated. Besides the FPI rally, some three thousand workers belonging to the All Indonesian Workers` Union Confederation (KSPSI), headed by Andi Gani Nena Wea, also held a rally from the HI Circle to the Presidential Palace, the Jakarta DPRD, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM), and the Manpower Ministry. The workers would voice their rejection to the planned oil price hike and demand a salary hike by 30 percent, Rikwanto noted.