Protesters want Ahok in custody, protection for ulamas

JAKARTA — Thousands of protesters rallied in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in South Jakarta yesterday, demanding that Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama be dismissed from his post.

The protesters called their demonstration the “212” rally, in reference to yesterday’s date and to an earlier rally that was held to defend Islam on Dec 2, last year.

Lawmakers from a commission on legal affairs under the House of Representatives met with some of the protesters and promised to deliver their demands to the government.

Mr Muhammad Al Khatath, the secretary general of the Indonesian Muslim Forum, said the group wants President Joko Widodo to suspend Mr Purnama — known locally as Ahok — since he is currently standing trial on blasphemy charges.

Delivering three demands to the lawmakers in a meeting that lasted two hours, Mr Muhammad also demanded police put a stop to “criminalisation of ulamas” and put Mr Purnama into custody instead.

Mr Purnama is on trial for allegedly insulting the Quran last year. He denies the accusation that was filed after he said voters were deceived by his opponents who used a verse in the Quran to imply that Muslims should not vote for a leader of a different religion.

“The House of Representatives leaders will deliver these demands to the government,” said the commission’s chairman Bambang Soesatyo during the meeting yesterday.

“We will also tell the National Police chief when the commission meets him tomorrow (Wednesday) that you (the protesters) want the police to stop pressing criminal charges against ulamas and take Ahok into custody instead.”

No violent incidents were reported from the scene and protesters started to walk away from the Parliament house about 2pm. The authorities also deployed 10,000 personnel to ensure security at the building when the rally took place yesterday.

Mr Purnama, Jakarta’s first Christian and ethnic Chinese governor will be in a second-round vote on April 19.

He gained the most votes in a first round, on Feb 15, but not by enough to avoid a run-off, show unofficial counts.

He will face a run-off with his rival, former education minister Anies Baswedan, who is backed by influential former general, Prabowo Subianto, and his Gerindra Party. Mr Subianto narrowly lost the presidential election in 2014 to Mr Widodo.

The post of Jakarta governor has been a stepping stone to higher office. Mr Widodo was previously governor and Mr Purnama was his deputy. AGENCIES