Approximately 500 members of the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) and Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) joined a rally Friday protesting the proposed fuel price hike at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta.
They denounced government officials as “infidels” if they decided to proceed with the proposed fuel price hike.
Thousands of protesters from various Islamic organizations staged a rally in the area, causing severe traffic congestion. Hundreds of motorists and drivers were forced to turn back.
Thousands of other protesters broke into the House of Representatives compound after destroying the front gate on Jl. Gatot Subroto, Central Jakarta, at around 5 p.m.
The protesters, comprising PDI-P supporters, laborers and university students, demanded lawmakers cancel or postpone the plan to raise fuel prices – a highly controversial agenda which is currently under discussion in a House plenary session.
They also occupied a stretch of the toll road outside the House, forcing the TransJakartsa bus operator to cease operations in several corridors.
“We received orders from the busway central traffic control to stop operating [TransJakarta buses] at around 2 p.m.” said Nurma Hari, a Transjakarta information officer at the Semanggi busway shelter.
“Buses that had already departed were also ordered to turn back.” (sat/swd)
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