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Jokowi’s inner circle prevents him from meeting me: SBY
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Former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono speaks at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday. Yudhoyono responded to reports suggesting that one of his phone conversations was wiretapped. (JP/Donny Fernando)
F
ormer president and Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) said on Wednesday that he wanted to meet with his successor, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, to allow him explain the accusations levelled against him in relation to ongoing political turmoil.
During a press conference held at the party’s headquarters in Central Jakarta, Yudhoyono also claimed that he had wanted to meet the President for quite some time but had been prevented by Jokowi’s inner circle.
“It is a pity that I haven’t had the opportunity yet. If I could meet him, my intention is to be blatant [on] who reported to him, gave him information accusing me of financing the 4/11 rally and exploiting it, and matters related to the treason cases,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.
SBY was referring to a large rally on Nov. 4 last year, when thousands of conservative Muslims demanded that Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama be prosecuted for blasphemy.
“If I am accused and defamed, as a human being, I tell you that all of [the accusations] are false,” Yudhoyono said.
“Purportedly, [Jokowi] was eager to receive me but was prevented by two or three people around him. These people are so powerful that they can prevent the President from seeing a good friend,” Yudhoyono said as quoted by kompas.com.
The retired military general made the press statement after Ahok’s legal team claimed that Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma'ruf Amin had had a phone conversation with Yudhoyono in an attempt to persuade the MUI to declare that Ahok had committed blasphemy.
Yudhoyono’s oldest son, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, is running for Jakarta governor in the Feb. 15 race to rival Ahok, who is seeking a second term.
Ma'ruf has denied the claim while Yudhoyono admitted to having a phone conversation with Ma'ruf, but said it was just a courtesy call and not a political conversation.
(Read also: SBY calls for investigation into alleged "Watergate" scandal involving Ahok)
In response to the former president’s statement, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said no one was preventing Jokowi from meeting with anyone.
Similarly, the state secretary suggested that Yudhoyono disclose who the people were who had prevented him from meeting with Jokowi, kompas.com reported. (bbs)
