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Batman reports Indonesian ambassador to police for racist remarks
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Volunteers from Batman (Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama Mania) show pictures of the Batman logo with Ahok's face. (Kompas.com/Kahfi Dirga Cahya)
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community group reported an Indonesian ambassador to the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) on Friday over racists remarks directed at Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.
The group, calling itself Batman (Basuki Tjahaja Purnama Mania), reported Yusron Ihza Mahendra, the Indonesian ambassador to Japan, following alleged racists tweets directed at the governor.
"We came here to remind public officials to be careful in talking about SARA [racial, religious, ethnic] issues," Batman's attorney Reinhard Parapat said at the National Police headquarters on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.
On March 28, Yusron tweeted that "Ahok should not be arrogant. Pity the destitute, good Chinese-Indonesians who could become victims" on his Twitter account @YusronIhza_Mhd.
The group rebuked the use of the word Chinese, which they deemed racist.
"The language discredits a specific ethnic group," Reinhard said, adding that such comments had come from the ambassador through a social media account.
He also questioned Yusron's ethics as an ambassador representing the country overseas. Yusron is the younger brother of Yusril Ihza Mahedra, who hopes to be elected governor of Jakarta in the 2017 election.
Ahok reported the tweet to Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi and asked for Yusron's dismissal on Wednesday.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir hinted that Minister Retno had reprimanded Yusron.
Kompas.com reported that the group said they did not receive financial funds from the governor. (rin)
