Thousands deployed to secure Rohingya solidarity rally in Jakarta
A force consisting of up to 3,000 police and military personnel are on standby to secure a Rohingya solidarity rally set to be held in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Gondangdia, Menteng, Central Jakarta, after Friday prayers.
During the rally, protesters will voice their opposition to the alleged mass killings and persistent persecution of members of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan said only about 340 police officers were readied on Friday morning when few rally participants had gathered in front of the embassy. However, the police would in stages step up security measures in the afternoon as more people were expected to arrive.
“We are preparing 3,000 personnel in total,” Iriawan said in front of the Myanmar Embassy. He said it was estimated 2,000 people would join the rally.
Dozens of students from Ibnu Chaldun University staged a protest in front of the embassy at around 10 a.m. A rally coordinator said more people would join with them after Friday prayers.
During the rally, the students asked Myanmar's representatives in Indonesia to tell their government to stop the killing of the Rohingya. They also demanded the Indonesian government to press the Myanmar government to stop what they called “genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority”.