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Police question uploader of Ahok's speech
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Buni Yani (left), accompanied by his lawyers and friends, speaks to journalists to clarify his case in Jakarta on Nov. 7. He was reported by supporters of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama on allegations of spreading material that could spark hatred. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay))
B
uni Yani, the uploader of video containing footage of a controversial speech by inactive Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama onto his Facebook page, was questioned on Thursday by the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim).
“I am ready to be questioned. I want to provide clarification. I also recorded the speech on my phone,” said Buni as he arrived at police headquarters on Thursday, as reported by tribunnews.com.
Aldwin Rahadian, Buni’s lawyer, said his client would be questioned in his capacity as a witness in a blasphemy case implicating Ahok, not for allegedly editing the video footage taken in the Thousand Islands regency in late September.
Buni was reported to the Jakarta Police on allegations of spreading material that could spark hatred based on ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup (SARA) sentiment.
Budi denied editing the footage, saying that he only cut some of it to highlight Ahok’s statement on Surah al-Maidah, Verse 51 of the Quran. He, however, has admitted to making errors in transcribing the speech.
Ahok’s full speech was uploaded by the Jakarta administration onto YouTube.
In his speech, Ahok said, “In your inner hearts, Bapak/Ibu may not vote for me, because [you have been] lied to by [using] Surah al-Maidah, Verse 51, etc. […] So, if you cannot vote for me because you are afraid of being condemned to hell you do not need to feel uneasy as you are being fooled. It is alright.” (bbn)
