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Indonesia protest: Jakarta anti-governor rally hit with tear gas Indonesia protest: Jakarta anti-governor rally turns violent
(about 2 hours later)
Indonesian police have used tear gas to subdue protesters as tens of thousands of hard-line Muslims marched against the governor of Jakarta. Indonesian police have used tear gas and water cannon to subdue protesters as thousands of hard-line Muslims marched against Jakarta's governor.
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian, is the first ethnic Chinese to hold the governor's post in the capital of majority Muslim Indonesia.Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian, is the first ethnic Chinese to hold the governor's post in the capital of majority Muslim Indonesia.
Protesters got too close to the presidential palace, police said. The demonstrators accuse him of having insulted Islam's holy book, the Koran, and want him to be prosecuted.
At least one police officer has been injured in clashes with demonstrators, who accuse the governor of blasphemy. Clashes broke out between police and protesters who refused to disperse.
Police had been braced for the possibility of religious and racial tensions erupting at the protest. One elderly man died, the Associated Press reports, citing police. Several other people, including police officers, have been injured.
Protesters had earlier marched upon the presidential palace.
Police had been braced for the possibility of religious and racial tensions erupting at the rally, which an estimated 50,000 people attended.
It had mostly been peaceful but groups of angry demonstrators clashed with police after nightfall and set vehicles alight.
In 1998, a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment led to mobs looting and burning Chinese-owned shops and houses. Ethnic Chinese make up about 1% of Indonesia's population of 250 million people.In 1998, a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment led to mobs looting and burning Chinese-owned shops and houses. Ethnic Chinese make up about 1% of Indonesia's population of 250 million people.
The deadline for the protest to end had passed and the crowds were unhappy they had not been able to meet President Joko Widodo, the BBC's Rebecca Henschke in Jakarta says. Some began throwing plastic bottles at a police barricade. The protest was held to demand that Mr Purnama be prosecuted for blasphemy over comments he made in September that were seen as criticising a Koranic verse.
Representatives did, however, meet Vice-President Yusuf Kalla, who promised that an investigation into the governor would be completed within two weeks. He said that Islamic groups using a passage of the Koran to urge people not to support him were deceiving voters, who will go to the polls in February.
The demonstration has effectively shut down central Jakarta and had been proceeding peacefully until this point. The verse is interpreted by some as prohibiting Muslims from living under the leadership of a non-Muslim.
About 20,000 security personnel have been deployed. Police said an estimated 50,000 people were taking part.
Chief of Jakarta police Insp Gen Mochamad Iriawan earlier told the BBC that female officers in hijabs would be deployed on the front line of the protest "as a humanistic approach".
"We also have male police officers who are experts in Islamic chanting and will send them to the street if we need them [to calm the tension]," he said.
What are protesters angry about?
Mr Purnama, know as "Ahok", is planning to run for a second term as governor in February 2017.
But some Islamic groups have already urged people not to vote for him, citing Mr Purnama's actions over a verse from the Koran.
The verse is interpreted by some as prohibiting Muslims from living under the leadership of a non-Muslim. Others say the context for that verse is a time of war and it should therefore not be interpreted literally.
Who is Governor Ahok?
On 28 September, Mr Purnama, in comments that were filmed, said those using the passage - Surat Almaidah 51 - against him were "lying".
"Ladies and gentlemen, you don't have to vote for me because you've been lied to, with Surat Almaidah 51 and the like. That's your right," he said.
The comments caused outrage because they were seen as criticising a Koranic verse.
Mr Purnama has since apologised but formal complaints were lodged against him by Islamic groups for defamation. He is now being investigated by police.Mr Purnama has since apologised but formal complaints were lodged against him by Islamic groups for defamation. He is now being investigated by police.
Is it only about this incident? Who is Governor Ahok?
There are other underlying tensions. Some protesters at Friday's rally carried signs calling for the governor's death, the BBC's Rebecca Henschke in Jakarta says.
In 2014, Mr Purnama was the deputy governor under Joko Widodo. When Mr Widodo was elected president the main group behind the current protest - Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) - did not want Mr Purnama to succeed him. Representatives met with Vice-President Yusuf Kalla, who promised that the investigation into Mr Purnama would be completed within two weeks.
They argued that a Christian should not govern a Muslim-majority city. There have long been tensions around Mr Purnama political role.
The campaign against him has since taken on anti-Chinese overtones. In 2014, he was the deputy governor under Joko Widodo. When Mr Widodo was elected president the main group behind the current protest - Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) - did not want Mr Purnama to succeed him.
They argued that a Christian should not govern a Muslim-majority city. The campaign against him has since taken on anti-Chinese overtones, though the FPI said the rally was not about the governor being from a minority group.
Jakarta police said there were "provocative statements and images" on social media urging people to take violent action against Mr Purnama, including calls to kill him.Jakarta police said there were "provocative statements and images" on social media urging people to take violent action against Mr Purnama, including calls to kill him.
Some of the ethnic Chinese business owners in Jakarta were nervous ahead of the rally. Despite being seen as brash and outspoken, the governor is popular among many in the capital and has been praised for his effectiveness.
"We are worried that there will be small riots, that they are creating danger," Tommy, a TV store owner, told the BBC's Indonesian service. Muslims in Indonesia are largely moderate and the country's largest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, had advised its 40 million members not to take part in the protest.
"We are praying for the situation to be under control and safe," he said from Glodok - the part of Jakarta where many Chinese-owned electronics shops are concentrated.
During the 1998 riot, the area was badly damaged by looters, along with reports of incidents of mass rape.
Do all Indonesians feel this way?
Despite being seen as brash and outspoken, the governor is popular and has been praised by many for his effectiveness.
Muslims in Indonesia are largely moderate and the country's largest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama, has advised its 40 million members not to take part in the protest.
FPI has a history of violent attacks on minorities and violent protests and has led the campaign against Mr Purnama from before the alleged blasphemy.
However, the day before the rally the group insisted it was not about him being a minority.
"This is not anti-Christian or anti-Chinese action," Habib Riziek, a spiritual leader for FPI said.