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House divided in response to police warning about overthrow of Jokowi
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Stay alert – With a tight escort, National Police chief Gen.Tito Karnavian (center) enters a press conference room at the police’s headquarters in Jakarta on Nov.16 to give a statement on the result of the police’s case screening on a blasphemy case implicating Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama. (Antara/M.Agung Rajasa)
T
he National Police’s warning about the potential ouster of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo by protesters involved in two large-scale rallies slated for Nov. 25 and Dec. 2 has received a mixed reception from lawmakers.
Several lawmakers lambasted National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian for revealing the speculation about an attempted overthrow of Jokowi, saying that the statement had led to public confusion. However, others have supported the police chief, applauding his institution for implementing quick measures to anticipate security threats during the upcoming rallies.
“What the National Police chief has done is to anticipate untoward incidents,” said Riska Mariska, a member of the House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs, human rights and security, in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician also applauded Tito for immediately issuing a circular prohibiting anyone from threatening or inciting others to overthrow Jokowi during the rallies. Tito’s warning was “a necessary measure to prevent unconstitutional actions”, she went on.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Didik Mukrianto from the Democratic Party said Tito’s statement was an exaggeration and had undermined the public’s sense of security.
“The police are responsible for maintaining peace and stability, not disrupting it,” Didik said. “Even if it was true that there was a plot to oust the President, the police must work to prevent it without revealing it to the public”. (ebf)
