Indonesia: Protest planned outside Chinese embassy in Jakarta Dec. 21

Event

Islamist groups are planning to hold a demonstration outside of the Chinese embassy in Jakarta on Friday, December 21. The rally is scheduled to start at 13:00 (local time) following Friday prayers and is being held in support of the Uighur community in China. While the demonstration is expected to remain peaceful, a heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are anticipated in the area.

Context

A similar rally was held in Jakarta on December 18 and took place peacefully. The Chinese government has come under increasing international pressure following media reports in recent weeks alleging that up to 3 million ethnic Uighurs have been interned at “reeducation camps” in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region. The Muslim Turkish-speaking Uighur minority present in the region have long sought to establish a separate Uighur state, a move opposed by the Chinese government. Many Muslim Uighurs feel they are oppressed and discriminated against by the Chinese government, which has imposed strict controls over the observance of Muslim customs and practices, such as wearing head coverings, fasting during Ramadan, and growing beards.

Advice

Individuals in Jakarta are advised to avoid all political demonstrations as a precaution.