Jakarta Headlines: Jakarta, public outpouring of affection and gratitude for Ahok

Geographic areas

» 04/29/2017, 12.56

INDONESIA

Mathias Hariyadi

Citizens want to express their admiration. Each day thousands go to the town hall. The area in front of the palace flooded with signposts and floral decorations. Radical Islamist group's initiatives against the Christian governor continue. On 9 May the verdict of the blasphemy trial. Ahok: "Disliked and hated because of my faith and my ideas."

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Thousands of Indonesians are expressing their affection and gratitude to governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his deputy Djarot Saiful Hidayat for their work in the Grand Jakarta (DKI Jakarta).

On April 19, Ahok failed to win the second round of the most intense and controversial elections in the country's history, defeated by rival Anies Baswedan. Since then, many of his supporters have expressed their admiration for the Christian governor, who will leave his post in October. For so many Indonesians, he is the symbol of courageous and clean administration dedicated to the development of the city and to the improvement of the people's well-being.

In recent days, Jakarta City Hall has become a tourist attraction. Since April 27, every day, thousands of people from all over the country travel to the government building. As the governor performs his duties, they wait patiently for their turn to meet and take pictures with Ahok. The large number of people visiting the office has prompted security personnel to create a set of rules for those wishing to send their greetings to the governor. Visitors are required to take a number, stand in a row and mark their hands after taking pictures, to prevent them from reuniting with the queue.

Since April 25, the area in front of the palace has been flooded with flowers and decorations sent by citizens as a sign of solidarity with the outgoing administration. On April 27, the numbers rose rapidly to more than 2,000 and forced the authorities to transfer many of them to the Monas National Monument in downtown Jakarta.

While on the one hand the public affection of Ahok has increased, on the other hand, the initiatives of radical Islamist groups against him do not stop. Yesterday, Jakarta police deployed 4,600 agents in the wake of a demonstration of Islamists. They demand that the Jakarta court condemn the Christian Governor, in the manipulated blasphemy case that has been dragging on for months. The 1,500 participants attending the rally, organized by the National Movement to Safeguard the Indonesian Ulema Council's Fatwa (Gnpf-Mui) extremist movement, marched throughthe streets of Jakarta from the Istiqlal Mosque to the tribunal.

The verdict of the trial is scheduled for May 9th. During the last hearing of April 25, Ahok declared himself victim of an orchestrated case of defamation. He told the judges that, as governor, he worked only to improve people's well-being. "I will continue to help the poor and needy, though defamed and hated because of my faith and my ideas. I will continue to serve [the citizens] with love, "Ahok told the court.

See also

13/12/2016 09:53:00 INDONESIAJakarta, blasphemy trial against Christian governor opens

The Jakarta Court North, dismissed the charge against Ahok of insulting Islam during a rally. Thousands of onlookers flocked to the event. The defense claims that the governor had lashed out at Muslim politicians who wanted to hinder his re-election as governor, but his words were manipulated.

05/04/2017 15:21:00 INDONESIAAhok on trial, video that indicted Christian governor 'unacceptable'

It will not be screened in any of the upcoming hearings. The edited movie is now part of a criminal case against its speaker. Ahok offers an apology for the case of blasphemy orchestrated against him. Ceaseless attacks of the extremist Muslim organizations. The security forces arrest five Islamist leaders for treason.

24/11/2016 12:08:00 INDONESIAJakarta arrests instigator of the protests against Christian governor

Buni Yani, a former journalist and professor of communication, is accused of having manipulated the words of Ahok and having incited the radical Muslim groups. A petition calling for his prosecution has collected more than 100 thousand signatures. The fundamentalists promise more protests on 2 December.

13/03/2017 15:03:00 INDONESIAMuslim supporters of Christian governor denied funeral

Banners and notices have been displayed in several Jakarta mosques. Police are investigating the matter. Concerned, Religious Affairs minister calls refusals "unislamic"." The election campaign was marked by acts of intolerance by Islamists against Ahok and his supporters. Tensions are building ahead of the second round of voting in April. Moderate Muslims react.

12/10/2016 17:49:00 INDONESIAJakarta's "blasphemous" Christian governor kicks up a storm

The politician said that the Qur'an should not be used for non-religious purposes. Indonesia's main Islamic groups accuse him of defaming Islam. The campaign to discredit him continues ahead of the upcoming election.

Editor's choices

EGYPT – VATICAN

Pope in Egypt: Egypt called to condemn violence and poverty in the Middle East

In his address to Egyptian authorities, Francis stressed Egypt's role and responsibility in the future of the region. "In the fragile and complex situation of today's world, which I have described as 'a world war being fought piecemeal', it needs to be clearly stated that no civilized society can be built without repudiating every ideology of evil, violence and extremism that presumes to suppress others and to annihilate diversity by manipulating and profaning the Sacred Name of God."

ISLAM – VATICAN – EGYPT

A Muslim writes to the pope: Dear Pope Francis . . .

Kamel Abderrahmani

He admires the charity shown by the pontiff towards Syrian Muslim refugees, and his push in favour of love and against hatred. Islamic scholars are not like this, he says, they do not denounce Daesh's hatred and do nothing for Christians. He calls on the pontiff to press President to Sisi and Al Azhar to reform Islam. Without this Al Azhar risks being the academy of world fundamentalism. Here is the letter from our friend and collaborator Kamel Abderrahmani.

TOP10

22/04/2017 VIETNAM �" CHINA

24/04/2017 BANGLADESH - SAUDI ARABIA

25/04/2017 EGYPT �" VATICAN �" ISLAM

22/04/2017 NORTH KOREA �" CHINA

AsiaNews IS ALSO A MONTHLY!

AsiaNews monthly magazine (in Italian) is free.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

IRAN 2016 Banner