The peace of the nation was the main reason behind the surprise move by non-active Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama to drop his plan to appeal his two-year prison sentence for blasphemy.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Ahok’s wife, Veronica Tan, read out a letter hand-written by her husband behind bars that explained why he had withdrawn his appeal against his sentence.

Tearfully and in a breaking voice, Veronica said that Ahok had accepted the sentence, which was harsher than that demanded by prosecutors, who had only asked for two years’ probation for lesser charge of inciting hatred toward clergymen.

“I know that it’s hard for you to accept this, let alone for me. However, I have learned to forgive and accept all of this, if this is for our common good in building the nation and state,” Veronica quoted Ahok as saying.

Ahok also thanked his supporters and sympathizers for the support given to him, but also encouraged them to follow his example in accepting the reality.

Ahok vehemently denied during his trial any wrongdoing. Since Ahok was sentenced on May 9, his supporters have held a series of peaceful rallies to demand that Ahok’s detention be suspended. His supporters in Jakarta and other regions have also held candlelight vigils to show support for him.

“Jakartans would otherwise suffer great losses, in the form of traffic congestion and economic losses resulting from the rallies,” Ahok said.

“It’s not right to hold rallies for the process that I should face,” Ahok remarked.

Ahok said he was worried that rallies held by his supporters could be infiltrated by parties with ill-intent.

He added that his supporters should have faith that God was in control, and that they also had to love each other.

“Gusti ora sare [God doesn’t sleep],” Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, said, referring to a Javanese saying.

“Put your faith in the Lord, now and always. In my faith I say that the Lord will work out his plan for my life,” he concluded in his letter.

On Monday, Ahok, through Veronica, withdrew his appeal less than an hour after his defense team had filed the appropriate documents.

Ahok’s sister Fify Lety Indra, who is also a member of Ahok’s legal team, said Ahok and his family members eventually came to the decision to withdraw the appeal after considering the interests of all parties.

Veronica added that the family would support Ahok in serving his time in prison, as ruled by the court.

Ahok’s lawyer, Rolas Sitinjak, said that Ahok was not worried that he might get a stiffer sentence from the appeal process.

However, he was concerned that during the appeal process, his supporters would hold rallies, which could cause a clash with parties who wanted Ahok to stay in prison.

Some observers believe that Ahok could receive a heavier prison term if he had decided to go ahead with his appeal, following precedents in which High Court judges have increased prison sentences for appellants.

Meanwhile, even though Ahok has withdrawn the appeal, the Jakarta High Court will proceed with its plan to reexamine the verdict as the prosecutors appealed against the court’s decision on May 15.

Prosecutors have requested the court to annul the district court’s decision, arguing that Ahok was guilty of insulting clergymen, as stipulated under Article 156 of the Criminal Code.

“[We expect that] the court will sentence the defendant to a year in prison suspended on probation for two years,” the prosecutors wrote.

Until Tuesday afternoon, prosecutors had not stated whether they would proceed with their appeal against the court’s decision.

Another of Ahok’s lawyers, I Wayan Sudirta, said the lawyers would keep urging the High Court to release Ahok from custody so he could be held on city or house arrest.

Popular

Govt eyes September for mass relocation of civil servants to Nusantara

Govt claims 'mudik' 2024 traffic management a success

Public hopes swell ahead of election dispute ruling