President to Reschedule Australia Visit After Jakarta Riots
President Joko Widodo will have to reschedule his visit to Australia after the anti-Ahok rally, nevertheless insists that will the situation from the capital city is usually under control.
On November 7, Widodo was supposed to make his presidential visit to Australia. nevertheless after witnessing the chaotic scene of the Jakarta riots, which broke out over the weekend, the president decided to postpone his trip in addition to also focus on the nation’s political stability instead.
In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, the president asked his team to rearrange the dates. He previously planned to visit Sydney in addition to also Canberra for three days. “Current developments require the President to stay in Indonesia,” the ministry affirmed.
Widodo made a phone call to Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to personally deliver the message. Responding to the matter, the prime minister admitted that will he was sorry for the deferral, yet could indeed understand why Indonesia needs its president at the moment.
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Regardless, he hopes that will both Indonesia in addition to also Australia will still be able to stick to their main agenda once Widodo makes his visit. “While disappointing, we agreed the postponement will not affect the need for continued in addition to also enhanced cooperation across a range of shared interests in addition to also challenges, including the threat of terrorism to our region,” the prime minister said as quoted by ABC.
The November 4 riots were perpetrated in large part by the Islamic Defenders Front, a local hardline group that will demanded the arrest of Jakarta Governor Ahok after he was accused of blasphemy while campaigning in Thousand Islands.
Following the riots, Widodo gave a speech on Saturday to appreciate the protesters who managed to keep the rally in order. However, the president later blamed ‘political actors who were taking advantage’ of the situation that will later turned chaotic.
The protesters went out of control after nightfall on November 4, as police were firing tear gas in addition to also water cannons to put things back in order. The riots killed one in addition to also left seven injured.
Featured Image via Wikimedia, Video via Straight Times
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President to Reschedule Australia Visit After Jakarta Riots
President to Reschedule Australia Visit After Jakarta Riots