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Police say Ahok's legal process on track, asking for no interferences
The legal process of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's alleged blasphemy has been running on track; therefore, there is no need for any party to intervene with the ongoing process by forcing the police to arrest the governor, a police official has said.
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In compliance – Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama (center) is ready to attend his first interrogation as a blasphemy suspect at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department in Jakarta on Nov. 22. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
The legal process of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's alleged blasphemy has been running on track; therefore, there is no need for any party to intervene with the ongoing process by forcing the police to arrest the governor, a police official has said.
National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said after the police named Ahok a suspect on Nov.16, several parties, including the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), expressed appreciation over the decision.
“The appreciation showed that the case had been running on track. We hope there won't be any interference in this case from any party," Rikwanto said at the National Police headquarters on Tuesday.
He also suggested for all people to honor the ongoing legal process.
"Please respect and trust the police until this case goes to the court. We hope people will stop saying that 'the police must do this or must do that'. Please just observe the case’s legal process," Rikwanto said.
On Monday, National Police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar said according to the Criminal Code Procedures (KUHAP), the arrest of a suspect was not compulsory. For the time being, he added, the police had not yet seen any urgency to arrest Ahok.
As reported earlier, the National Movement to Save the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Edicts (GNPF-MUI) stated it would carry out a mass rally on Dec. 2, in which rally participants would hold Friday prayers in the capital's two main roads, namely Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman. In the rally, GNPF-MUI said it would demand the police to immediately arrest Ahok. (ebf)
