Indonesia: Mass demonstration in Jakarta December 2

Event

Tens of thousands are expected to participate in the so-called 212 rally at the National Monument in Jakarta on Sunday, December 2. The National police and military reportedly plan to deploy an additional 20,000 personnel to secure the demonstration, which is scheduled to take place from 03:00 to 12:00 (local time). A heightened security presence and transportation disruptions are expected, and clashes between protesters and police cannot be ruled out.

Context

The 212 protest movement began in 2016 amid allegations Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, a Chinese Christian politician, committed blasphemy against Islam. Islamist groups, like the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), organized a sustained protest movement which ultimately culminated in Ahok losing his election bid and his sentencing for blasphemy. Official estimates of previous rallies included as many as 200,000 participants, although authorities anticipate a smaller crowd in 2018.

Advice

Individuals in Jakarta are advised to monitor the situation, anticipate increased security presence and transportation disruptions in the vicinity of the protests, avoid all public demonstrations as a precaution, and refrain from discussing political topics in public.