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Jokowi shrugs off threat of instability
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Blasphemy protest – Thousands of protesters pack the House of Representatives building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Nov. 4 to protest incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s remarks of alleged blasphemy. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
W
ith the security forces ready to deal with more rallies by conservative Muslims demanding the arrest of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo appeared to be at ease on Wednesday, calling such protests as the noise of democracy.
In a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the State Palace, Jokowi said it was only natural for democracy to “get a little noisy sometimes”.
“You may have heard we had some demonstrations and some political tensions recently. We have this kind of political outburst from time to time. We are becoming used to it. We gladly accept it as a price of democracy,” Jokowi said.
Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab announced on Wednesday that the FPI along with other conservative Muslim groups, united in the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI), would go ahead with its rally plans on Dec. 2 to demand the government arrest Ahok for alleged blasphemy.
Ahok, who is seeking reelection in February, inadvertently provoked Muslims when he cited a verse from the Quran during a gathering with residents in Thousand Islands, Jakarta.
The protests did not stop even after the National Police began to question Ahok as a suspect in the case.
Ahead of the anticipated rally, the President publicly met several influential figures, putting on display the stable support of his government. Last week, Jokowi met with Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, signaling the possibility of new terms between the former rivals who competed against each other in the 2014 presidential election.
On Monday, he met with former president and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and later United Development Party (PPP)chairman Romahurmuziy, on Tuesday, to discuss various political issues.
The heightened communications with the political and Muslim leaders have resulted in solid support behind the government.
Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama, the country’s two largest Muslim organizations, have denounced the rallies and called on Muslims to refrain from participating in them.
The GNPF-MUI was behind an earlier mass rally on Nov. 4, which later turned violent.
Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir later called on all Muslims on Wednesday to accept the decision of the police who have named Ahok a suspect in the blasphemy case.
“We strongly support the law enforcement authorities in upholding justice against those who have done wrong,” Haedar said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Security forces have been on high alert ahead of any planned rallies. The Jakarta Police have taken a tougher stance, having issued a circular to remind people that an act of treason could result in the death penalty.
“In expressing one’s thought in public, it is illegal to carry out [an act that will jeopardize] the nation’s security such as treason against the President or the Vice President,” the circular stated, which was signed by Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mochammad Iriawan.
In a move to ensure that everyone is aware of the law, the police plan to drop around 50,000 copies of the circulars from a helicopter.
The police have also named Buni Yani, who posted a video of Ahok addressing Thousands Islands residents, a suspect, accusing him of inciting public anger against the governor. The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) has cautioned against the police’s stern action, saying it could disrupt the process of democracy.
“Police intelligence must be proactive, but not to the point where it could restrict the space for democracy. This incident risks becoming a precedent in future expressions of opinion,” LBH Jakarta director Alghiffari Aqsa told The Jakarta Post.
Beyond the capital, pressure and insults from conservative Muslim groups allegedly wishing to topple Jokowi have sparked public anger in a number of regions supporting the President in Central Java, especially in Banyumas regency.
Members of the community expressed a readiness to fight to protect Jokowi if the groups continued with their threats. They have erected dozens of banners thorughout Banyumas capital of Purwokerto. (vny)
