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Ahok, other prisoners barred from Independence Day event
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Former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja "Ahok" Purnama flashes a victory sign before being transferred to the National Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) detention center in Depok, West Java. (Antara/Ubaidillah)
F
ormer Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja "Ahok" Purnama was not allowed to join a flag-hoisting ceremony held on Thursday to celebrate the country's independence at the National Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) detention center, where he serves his jail term.
A Brimob officer who works as a guard at the detention center was quoted as saying by tempo.co that detainees were not allowed to join the ceremony. "No detainees were allowed to join the ceremony, including Ahok," said the officer, who wished to remain anonymous.
Senior Brimob officers and veterans of the corps were seen joining the ceremony on Thursday, after they had been bused from their residences to the Brimob headquarters in Depok, West Java.
Ahok was sentenced to two years in prison for blasphemy on May 9.
The former governor was initially supposed to serve his sentence at the Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta, but was transferred to the Brimob detention center due to security concerns.
The warden of the Cipinang prison had delivered a letter to prosecutors, apparently indicating he could not ensure the former governor's safety or peace at the prison.
The detention triggered protests by hundreds of Ahok’s supporters, who flocked to the detention center to demand his release.
