"There is no order to shoot and disperse demonstrators on the spot," Iriawan said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Jakarta Police Chief Ins.Gen. M Iriawan denied any order to use fire arms to deal with big rally planned by a number of Islamic organizations on Nov. 4.
The demonstration is planned against Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) who they accused of blasphemy insulting the Koran.
"There is no order to shoot and disperse demonstrators on the spot," Iriawan said in a statement read by Jakarta police spokesman Sr. Com. Awi Setiyono.
The statement on Sunday by Iriawan was to clarify reports and rumors about order to shoot to disperse the demonstrators.
Awi said police officers are not even allowed to carry fire arms when dealing with the demonstrators.
He called on people not to take reports and rumors as true without checking the sources, which apparently seek to create instability in the city ahead of the gubernatorial election in February , 2017.
"Those spreading the rumors apparently want to take advantage of the condition to create anarchy and make the country like Middle East," he said.
The demonstration is aimed at preventing Ahok from taking part in the election, which is also contested by the pair of Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni and Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno.
The two pairs have strong support from Islamic parties, while Ahok, an ethnic Chinese and Christian, with vice Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat as his running mate, is supported by nationalist parties.
Awi said police would guard any demonstration to guarantee safety and peace as demonstration is legal.
He said police and the military would cooperate in maintaining security in Jakarta as well as in other areas in the country.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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