November 25 Rally to Run Peacefully: VP Kalla

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The upcoming rally on November 25 will be held peacefully, Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla said here on Friday.

Muslim groups have vowed to organize another rally on November 25, following the November 4 demonstration.

"If the Muslim groups stage another rally on November 25, it will run peacefully," Jusuf Kalla assured.

The vice president claimed he was not aware of the motives or objectives behind the demonstration.

The upcoming rally is intended to support or to welcome the polices decision against Jakarta Governor Tjahaja Basuki Purnamas alleged blasphemous statement concerning the Holy Quran.

On November 4, hundreds of thousands of people and members of Muslim organizations had congregated at the Hotel Indonesia Circle for a long march to the State Palace to protest certain blasphemous remarks made by Jakarta Governor Tjahaja Basuki Purnama (Ahok) about the Holy Quran.

The protestors sought legal action against the governor. They had come from various regions across the country, such as East Java, West Java, Central Java, South Kalimantan and West Sumatra.

In his address to the protestors last Friday, Kiai Jafar Siddiq, an ulema (Islamic scholar) from Jakarta, had said the peaceful rally did not have anything to do with the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election or other political interests. (WDY)