Prabowo urges supporters not to get involved in riots

Prabowo Subianto, who lost in Indonesia’s 2019 presidential election, called on his supporters not to be involved in riots while holding protest rallies against the outcome of the election.

But many observers and political analysts blamed him following the riots, his speech and his actions after the end of April's 2019 election.

Prabowo (photo, above), on April 17, after the polling process was completed, rejected the quick count decisions or quick counts of independent bodies, which favoured President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

The quick count result, according to the previous election, was 99.9 percent accurate.

"On May 15, Prabowo boycotted the KPU (Indonesia’s Election Commission) counting process, alleging there was fraud.

"He and leaders backing him asked the people to hold demonstrations to object to the decision, and what happened (the riots) since the start of the morning, is his doing," said a political analyst.

Jokowi, in his official Instagram, asked the people of Indonesia to unite and asserted that the authorities will not compromise with rioters who challenged the rule of law.

Indonesian police, in a statement last night, said 257 protesters had been arrested since early yesterday morning.

Political observers also called on Prabowo to approach his protesters, so they would not act violently and play an important role in restoring public order and political stability in Indonesia.

Indonesian police also believed there are certain groups out to spark chaos after the post-election results.

Rioting was back in the area of the Bawaslu Building in Central Jakarta about 8.30pm last night, after the thousands, who had gathered peacefully since yesterday morning, had dispersed.

A group of over 200 rioters were believed to have come from the Tanah Abang area, throwing stones, Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at the security forces in the area.

Security forces took control of the situation by firing tear gas to disperse the group.

- Bernama

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