Jakarta demonstrators leave 75 tons of litter

The Jakarta Cleanliness Service recorded 75 tons of litter left behind by demonstrators in a number of spots in the capital city after holding rallies on Friday.

"We have collected 75 tons of refuse of various types such as (plastic) bottles, Styrofoam, woods, stones and plastic materials," said Isnawati Adji, head of the Jakarta Cleanliness Service, here on Saturday.

The Jakarta Cleanliness Service has deployed 500 daily workers, 31 road sweeper cars, 15 trash trucks, 11 toilet buses, eight pickups, seven compactor trucks and four toilet containers to clean the garbage.

"We disposed the trash into the Bantargebang Landfill in Bekasi, West Java. We worked until 4am on Saturday morning to clean the litter," Isnawa said.

The garbage was scattered in several rally spots such as around the Istiqlal Grand Mosque, the Merdeka Selatan, Merdeka Timur, Merdeka Barat and Merdeka Utara streets, in front of the State Palace, around the Gambir Railway station, the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle, the Tani Monument in Senen area and the Gajah Mada - Hayam Wuruk streets.

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims took to the streets on Friday to protest against the blasphemy statement of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) recently.

The November 4 rally showed that Islam in Indonesia is friendly, peaceful and seeks Rahmatan lil alamin (blessing for the universe), he stated.

At the rally, the demonstrators urged law enforcement agencies to take legal action against Ahok for the alleged blasphemous statement concerning the Holy Quran.
Source: ANTARA