The atmosphere in Jakarta was tense and some companies asked employees to work from home, access to business districts was restricted and embassies urged caution. The protesters, led by a group called the Islamic Defenders Front, are calling for Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahja Purnama, a Christian and the first ethnic Chinese in the job, to be jailed for blasphemy. I call on God to jail him.”Purnama served as deputy to President Joko Widodo whenWidodo was city governor from 2012 to 2014, and has long been seen as an ally of the president. Critics say Widodo’s government has not done enough to contain the religious and ethnic tension that is mounting ahead of a city governor election in February. An attack in Jakarta early this year by supporters of Islamic State raised fears of a new wave of violent militancy.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 19, 2016 03:48 UTC