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Ahok’s next trial hearing not to be aired on TV
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Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularly known as "Ahok," attends his trial as prosecutors, left background, look on at North Jakarta District Court in Jakarta, on Dec. 20, 2016. Ahok is on trial for blasphemy following his remark about a passage in the Quran that could be interpreted as prohibiting Muslims from accepting non-Muslims as leaders. (Pool Photo via AP/Adek Berry)
T
he third hearing of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s blasphemy case, which will present witnesses’ testimonies, is set to proceed without being aired live on television.
The next hearing would be the first session to be conducted in its new location since being moved by the Supreme Court to the Agriculture Ministry complex in South Jakarta.
The trial has been moved from the court’s temporary venue, located at the former Central Jakarta District Court building on Jl. Gajah Mada in Central Jakarta, due to security reasons.
The new location was chosen to accommodate more visitors in an area away from the heart of the city’s economic center.
Supreme Court spokesman Suhadi confirmed that media recording of the hearing could only occur with the permission of the authorized panel of judges.
“Documenting the trial can only be done with permission from the panel of judges overseeing the trial,” Suhadi told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Monday.
Suhadi reasoned protecting the integrity of the witnesses could be one of the considerations behind the judges’ decision. Witnesses are not allowed to interact with one another in order to avoid copying each other’s statements, he continued, adding that TV could influence witnesses’ stances.
Ahok, who is currently running for reelection, could be set to stand trial throughout the voting period on Feb. 15.
When asked whether the trial could extend past the voting period of the regional elections, Suhadi explained that the maximum amount of time for a trial concerning criminal charges is six months.
He said that the number of witnesses would influence the length. “However, if it goes for more than six months, it must be reported to the High Court or the Supreme Court to explain why the trial exceeded six months,” Suhadi said.
As stated by presiding judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto in the hearing on Dec. 13, the section following the judges’ interlocutory decision, where the evidence would be presented, would not air live on TV.
“The trial is open to the public and permitted to be aired on TV as long as it’s not the section of evidence presentation, which is still open to the public but cannot be aired live,” Dwiarso said.
Ahok’s campaign team spokesman, Bestari Barus, had expressed disappointment should the judges proceed with the decision not to air the hearing on TV. Ahok had earlier stated that he wished for the trial to be accessible for the public.
“We will leave it up to the judges as we cannot intervene or impose our will,” Bestari told the Post.
The public had flooded to the trial location during previous hearings, where both groups of supporters and those against Ahok had conducted demonstrations outside the doors of the court room.
National Movement to Save the Indonesian Ulema Council’s Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) advocacy head Novel Bamukmin said almost 2,000 people are set to gather on Tuesday to continue to demand Ahok be imprisoned.
Meanwhile, Ahok supporters have also affirmed a commitment to gather at the trial complex in show of support for the gubernatorial candidate. The demonstration’s head coordinator Soelianto Rusli has claimed that approximately 800 people would join the rally at the court.
