Jakarta's Police Department said chances are small that there will be another anti-Ahok demonstration in Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta. Over the past week media reported that protesters want to stage another demonstration on 25 November 2016 to demand the arrest of incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Cahaya Purnama (known as Ahok). Protesters accuse Ahok (a Christian of Chinese descent) of blasphemy after seeing a manipulated video that showed Ahok (mis)quoting Quranic verses during a speech in Kepulauan Seribu, off the coast of Jakarta, in early October.

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On 6 November 2016, Indonesia Investments released the latest edition of its newsletter. This free newsletter, which is sent to our subscribers once per week, contains the most important news stories from Indonesia that have been reported on our website over the last seven days. Most of the topics involve political and economy-related topics such as the anti-Ahok demonstration, the selloff ahead of the US presidential election, inflation, manufacturing activity, consumer confidence, coal mining, tourism, and more.

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Between 50,000 and 100,000 protesters are expected to gather today (04/11) in Central Jakarta to express their anger at incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Cahaya Purnama (Ahok). This demonstration, which is organized by a coalition of several Islamic groups including hard-line group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), is held as protesters accuse Ahok (a Christian of Chinese descent) of blasphemy by (mis)quoting Quranic verses during a speech in Kepulauan Seribu, off the coast of Jakarta, in early October.

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Foreigners are advised to stay clear of the "anti-Ahok" demonstration that is scheduled for Friday (04/11) in Central Jakarta as Islamic State-inspired terrorist cells may take advantage of the rally. The Jakarta police department will deploy about 7,000 personnel to safeguard security during the rally. However, this actually presents an opportunity for radical Muslims to launch attacks on Indonesian security officers. In the anti-Ahok rally, thousands of Muslims will express their anger toward incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

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Industry players in Jakarta are somewhat relieved after Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) signalled that he will allow a revision to the mandatory relocation of local industries to designated industrial zones. Based on Regional Regulation No. 1/2014 on Detailed Spatial Planning and Zoning Regulations, all local industries in Jakarta have to be (re)located into the designated industrial zones before 1 January 2017. Ahok is now expected to extend the deadline to the end of 2019.

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Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, an Indonesian company that is engaged in the development of real estate and consulting services for the planning and development of tourist and hospitality sites, received the green light from its majority stakeholder - the local Jakarta administration - to conduct a rights issue. The company is primarily known for managing Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, an integrated recreation and resort complex in North Jakarta. This complex is Jakarta's number one tourist destination, attracting nearly 17 million visitors on an annual basis.

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Acting Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said that the minimum provincial wage for Jakarta (Upah Minimum Provinsi) will not exceed IDR 2.7 million (USD $221) in 2015. This new minimum wage would mean a 10.3 percentage point increase from Jakarta’s current minimum wage of IDR 2.44 million (USD $200). According to the acting Governor, the new minimum wage would be above the needed salary to have an acceptable standard of living in the capital city of Indonesia (which Ahok puts at IDR 2.53 million or USD $207).

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Asian stocks, including Indonesia's benchmark Jakarta Composite Index, continue their persistent slide on Friday (04/11) ahead of the US presidential election on Tuesday 8 November 2016. By 10:45 am local Jakarta time, Indonesian stocks were down 0.29 percent to 5,314.00 points, while the rupiah had depreciated 0.14 percent to IDR 13,093 per US dollar (Bloomberg Dollar Index). Besides the too-close-to-call US election, investors are also keeping an eye on the mass demonstration in Jakarta today.

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On Friday (04/11) a massive demonstration is scheduled to be staged in Jakarta. In this protest rally thousands of people are expected to gather to ventilate their disapproval of incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki Cahaya Purnama (better known as Ahok). The rally is organized by a coalition of Islamic groups including hard-line group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) which has often used violence to achieve their targets. The Muslim groups accuse Ahok of blasphemy by misquoting Quranic verses during a speech in Kepulauan Seribu, off the coast of Jakarta, in early October.

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The Indonesian government announced that the moratorium on the construction of the grand reclamation project off the bay of Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta has been lifted. In April 2016 Indonesian President Joko Widodo suspended all activities related to the project due to alleged violations of and/or hiatuses in Indonesian law. Moreover, a corruption scandal emerged involving one of the developers of the land reclamation project and a local Jakarta councilor.

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Although development of the 17 artificial islands off the coast of Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta has been suspended (for six months) due to alleged violations of and/or hiatuses in Indonesian law, Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (known as Ahok) says he is certain that the ambitious land reclamation project will be continued after the moratorium. The construction of these 17 artificial islands is a project that is separate from (but highly integrated with) the central government's National Capital Integrated Coastal Development (NCICD) plan, better known as the Great Garuda.

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Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (better known as Ahok) has been inaugurated as the 17th Governor of Jakarta by Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday (19/11) The position of Jakarta Governor was previously empty as former Governor Widodo stepped down from this position to focus on a (successful) presidential campaign. Although by law the Deputy Governor (Ahok) automatically becomes the new Governor, this has met fierce resistance from certain sides as Ahok is an ethnic Chinese Christian. This news article is the updated version of an article that was first published on 18 November 2014

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With Indonesia's presidential election approaching (9 July 2014), investors - both domestic and foreign - have become more hesitant to commit to large investments, instead preferring to wait for the election results first. Obviously, investors want to see a 'market friendly' president to lead Southeast Asia's largest economy for (at least) the next five years; a ruler who can safeguard a conducive investment climate. For the Indonesian people, a just ruler is needed; one who can improve Indonesia's political and social issues.

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