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Jakarta Post

Acting Jakarta governor vows action against anti-Ahok hate banners

Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Tue, March 7, 2017

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Acting Jakarta governor vows action against anti-Ahok hate banners Acting Jakarta governor Sumarsono (right) accompanies Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo (left) to attend a work meeting at the House of Representatives’ Commission II, which oversees regional affairs, in Jakarta on Dec. 6, 2016. (Antara/Akbar Nugroho Gumay)

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cting Jakarta governor Sumarsono has promised to improve the organization of the gubernatorial election ahead of the runoff and to demolish hate banners.

Sumarsono conveyed those plans as he greeted administration staff on Monday morning on his first day at City Hall since temporarily taking the reins from Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama.

“I think [hate banners] should not happen. I call on every Muslim to restore the function of mosques,” said Sumarsono, who is also the Home Ministry’s director in charge of regional autonomy.

Banners seeking to exploit religious or racial sentiment against Ahok, who is a Christian of Chinese ethnicity and currently running for a new term in office, are still found at a number of mosques across the city.

The banners are emblazoned with messages calling on all Muslims to not perform funeral prayers for deceased Muslims found to have supported Ahok. A funeral prayer is a collective obligation for Muslims.

Forced to take leave ahead of the election runoff next month, Ahok has temporarily handed over the governorship to Sumarsono.    

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