Indonesia’s most infamous Islamist hardliner group, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), has issued a clear threat against the United States Embassy in Jakarta during what has been an otherwise peaceful pro-Palestine rally taking place in the capital’s National Monument (Monas) this afternoon.
Thousands of Muslims flocked to Monas from morning until Friday prayers at noon as a show of protest against the US government’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel last year. Though there has been no official estimate, the number of people who attended the rally could easily be in the tens of thousands as this aerial shot from Detik shows.
Foto: Aksi Bela Palestina 115 di Monas dari Jepretan Drone https://t.co/BC1d7eUB0o pic.twitter.com/V5QDMu6WWY
— detikFOTO (@detik_foto) May 11, 2018
Around 35,000 police and military personnel were deployed to keep the protest peaceful.
Though FPI was just one of many groups at the rally and they certainly don’t represent all Muslims, FPI Deputy Chairman Jafar Syidiq gave a speech in which he called on all followers of the faith to join them in attacking the US embassy for the country’s crimes against Palestine.
“Ulema commander, are you ready to attack the US embassy? Is everyone ready?” he shouted to cheers of approval from the crowd, as observed by CNN Indonesia.
“The Muslim people are ready to fight with them (Americans). We are ready with our weapons.”
Responding to the verbal threat, Jakarta Metro Police Chief Idham Aziz said he was sure it was just talk.
“We have security forces ready [at the embassy] but the rally organizers said they’re not going [to the embassy],” he said, as quoted by Detik.
That said, CNN Indonesia reported that a few protesters made their way over from Monas to the US embassy, which is situated near the monument on Jalan Medan Merdeka Timur. No attack has taken place yet, however, and the embassy is tightly guarded by joint military and police forces.
FPI also did more than stoke the flames of violence at the protest. Figures from the group, which is often aligned with opposition political parties, took the opportunity to denounce President Joko Widodo ahead of next year’s election during their orations.
Today’s protest, dubbed 115 because of the date, is the second massive show of solidarity for Palestine after a similar protest in Monas in December also drew thousands. Officially, Indonesia has strongly objected to the US recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, warning that it could have disastrous consequences on the turbulent region.
Brien Doyle says
”35,000 police and military personnel were deployed to keep the protest peaceful.”
All demonstrations which require this sort of tax-funded expenses must be paid for by those doing the demonstrations….
Brien Doyle says
This is a threat of violence.
This is a TERRORIST act and is a Crime.
The police and the government have a duty to arrest and and to convict.
Indonesia is NOT an Arab nation and needs to stop acting like one……