Indonesian police on Saturday released seven people, including two former generals and a rock star, a day after they were arrested on suspicion of treason and sedition.
11 people were arrested on Friday before over 200,000 conservative Muslims staged a mass rally against Jakarta’s Christian governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is facing trial for allegedly insulting the Koran.
National police spokesman, Boy Rafli Amar, said the seven, along with the four others still in custody, would face charges of treason or sedition.
Among them are Rachmawati Sukarnoputri, the estranged sister of former president Megawati Sukarnoputri, rock musician and aspiring politician Ahmad Dhani, poet Ratna Sarumpaet and former general Kivlan Zen.
Police said some of the suspects were plotting to incite participants of Friday’s rally to occupy the parliament and demand a special session to impeach President Joko Widodo.
Political tensions have risen in Indonesia after over 100,000 Muslims rallied on Nov. 4 demanding the prosecution of Purnama, who is a member of the Chinese ethnic minority and an ally of the president.
Bowing to pressure, police named Purnama a suspect in the blasphemy case and the attorney general’s office said that he would soon stand trial.
However, rally participants demanded Purnama be arrested.
Report says the governor remains free as he campaigns for another term in the Feb. 15 gubernatorial election. (dpa/NAN)
