Indonesians rally for tolerance after blasphemy protests 

Balinese dancers perform during a rally in Jakarta. Thousands of Indonesians rallied in the center of the capital Jakarta yesterday

Tens of thousands of Indonesians rallied in the center of the capital Jakarta yesterday, calling for tolerance and unity after massive protests by conservative Muslims against the city’s minority Christian governor.

The crowds filled a major traffic circle in the heart of the city and sprawled into its main thoroughfares.

The demonstrators waved “We Are Indonesia” signs and a giant red-and-white national flag was held aloft by hundreds of people.

The capital of Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, has been rocked in the past month by two major protests against Gov. Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who is being prosecuted for alleged blasphemy. The movement against Ahok, who is the first ethnic Chinese to be governor of Jakarta and the first Christian in half a century, has raised communal tensions and challenged Indonesia’sreputation for practicing a moderate brand of Islam.

A demonstration against Ahok on Friday drew at least 200,000 people. An anti-
Ahok protest on Nov. 4 attracted at least 100,000 people and turned violent, with one dead and dozens of protesters and police injured.

Hard-line Muslim groups are demanding Ahok’s immediate arrest. Police say his detention is not necessary and have called for the legal process to be respected. Yesterday’s rally coincided with a weekly car-free morning in Jakarta when a central artery of the city is handed over to pedestrians for a few hours.

Police estimated 30,000 people turned up, said Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono.

Organizers called it the “Parade of Indonesian Culture” and it featured traditional dances from Sabang in westernmost Aceh to Merauke in easternmost Papua.

National leaders of political parties under the pro-government coalition behind President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, an ally of Ahok, delivered short speeches on the importance of keeping the ethnically diverse nation united.

“We have to fight to materialize the aims of our independence. That will not happen if we are scattered, blaspheming, humiliating each other and no longer trust each other,” Surya Paloh, chairman of the National Democratic Party, said from the main stage.

“Our main enemies are stupidity and poverty. Therefore we ask the current government to work harder and always consistently with the people’s aspirations,” Paloh said.

Blasphemy is a criminal offense in Indonesia and punishable by up to five years in prison. Ali Kotarumalos, Stephen Wright, AP

Body parts found after Indonesia plane with 13 disappears

Indonesian rescuers yesterday recovered body parts in the sea where a police plane with 13 people aboard is believed to have crashed the day before.

The light aircraft lost contact Saturday on the way to the island of Batam, which is near Singapore, after taking off from an island off the southeast coast of Sumatra. All those aboard, including five crew and eight police passengers, are feared dead, officials said.

The M28 Skytruck plane is believed to have plunged into 24-meter deep waters, said National Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo.

He told a news conference that remains probably of the victims were found in the area where villagers earlier retrieved a seat and a bag containing a cellphone and police documents.

TV footage showed police uniforms and other clothing also were retrieved from the sea.

Search teams involving Indonesia’s navy, customs office and maritime police as well as aircraft from Singapore were scouring a 518-square-kilometer sea area for the wreckage of the aircraft, Soelistyo said. Divers also were deployed, he said.