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Ahok declines to comment on City Council's boycott
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Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama greets visitors at the North Jakarta District Court during a hearing for his blasphemy case on Jan. 3. (Tribunnews/POOL/Irwan Rismawan)
J
akarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama on Tuesday declined to comment on a recent boycott movement from the City Council against his position as governor as he is currently standing trial for alleged blasphemy.
"That is for the authority of the Home Ministry," Ahok said on Tuesday at City Hall.
On Monday, four City Council factions -- the National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP), the Gerindra Party, and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) -- stated that they would refuse to hold any meetings with the governor unless there was certainty regarding his status.
"We agreed that as long as his status was uncertain, we do not want to discuss anything executive related," said Muhammad Taufik from the Gerindra Party.
Triwisaksana from the PKS cited Law No. 23/2014 on regional administrations, which stipulates that regional leaders will be suspended from their positions if they are a defendant on trial for offenses punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Ahok’s position as governor will be decided by the prison term demanded by prosecutors.
The police have charged Ahok with Article 156 (a) of the KUHP on blasphemy, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He was also charged with Article 156 on hate speech, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison.
The four parties planned to send a letter to the Home Minister and President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo regarding Ahok's status on Tuesday.
