ANOTHER RALLY NOT NEEDED WHILE AHOK BLASPHEMY CASE GOING ON by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 19, 2016 (Antara) - The public are expected to calm down and follow the developments of the legal process handled by the Crime Investigation Department (Bareskrim) of Indonesian Police (Polri), regarding the blasphemy case involving Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok).

           As promised by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the central government will not make any intervention in the law enforcement to uphold justice regarding the case.

         "The legal process is proven, and there is absolutely no need for government intervention affecting the enforcement of justice," Coordinating Minister for Political, Law and Security Affairs Wiranto said in a statement on Nov 16.

        The security minister said the legal process of Ahok, as a suspect, was purely based on investigation of testimonies given in a professional manner.

         Wiranto appealed to the people to respect the legal process at this time and entrusted it entirely to law enforcement authorities, in order to resolve the problem completely.     
        The police has named Ahok a suspect for his alleged blasphemous statement regarding the Holy Quran.

           The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) issued an edict that the statement was a blasphemy and should be processed legally in line with the country's existing laws. Bareskrim received 11 reports from Muslim organizations against Ahok.

        "The investigation has been upgraded with Ahok as the suspect," Indonesia Police spokesman Senior Commissioner Rikwanto said.

         He said the police have also decided to ban Ahok from going abroad in connection with his status.

       The police would immediately submit the dossiers of the case to the prosecutor's office.

        As the incumbent of the Jakarta gubernatorial elections to be held on February 15, 2017, Ahok is allowed to continue his political campaign.

         Ahok, the then deputy governor, was named Jakarta governor in 2014 when the then Jakarta governor Widodo decided to run for presidency and won the election with a margin of 53.1 to 46.9 percent against retired general Prabowo Subianto.

         Although Ahok was his former deputy, Jokowi had promised not to make any intervention and even ordered the police to work professionally, independently and transparently in handling the case.

         Jokowi also asked every party to respect the police in dealing with the case.

             "Let Polri work in accordance with the existing regulations," Jokowi said recently.

          Everyone must respect the ongoing legal process being handled by the police, he remarked.

          "Don't put any pressure, don't try to intervene. Let Polri work as per the existing regulations. We must respect what Polri has done," Jokowi added.

         Despite Ahok's apology for his statements made regarding the Quranic verse al-Maidah 51 on Sept 27, 2016, on Seribu Islands, northern Jakarta, some Islamic groups considered that an apology was not enough.

          Up to 1 million people turned up for the Nov 4 (411) rally believed to be the largest rally ever in Indonesia's history, although data on the exact number of participants was not available.

         The rally was called by the so-called National Movement of Guardians of Indonesian Ulema Council's Fatwa/Edict (GNPF-MUI) to demand justice and legal enforcement against Ahok.    
     Prior to the rally, Jokowi assured that demonstrations were the democratic rights of citizens, but the demonstrators did not have the right to impose their will or create any damages.

           Jokowi said the government would guarantee the right to free speech, but it would also give priority to public order and security.

           Furthermore, GNPF coordinators announced on Nov 18 that another rally would be planned for December 2 in Jakarta. They promised that the rally, to be held along Sudirman and Thamrin avenues in downtown of Jakarta, would be peaceful.

          As a response, police spokesman Senior Commissioner Rikwanto said it was no longer relevant to hold another massive rally following the Nov 4 rally.

        The police have been conducting the legal process of Ahok, so a plan to hold another massive rally would be irrelevant, Rikwant told the press at the National Police Headquarters on Nov 18.

         Instead of holding another rally, one should closely monitor the legal process of the case to be conveyed to the Attorney General Office, he added.

          "It would be better to focus more on the case, rather than holding another rally," he said.

          However, he said he would respect the human rights and democracy of those wanting to hold another rally.

           "The laws allow rallies, but there must be no anarchy, damages and assaults," he said.

            He expressed gratitude to every police officer for professionally guarding the Nov 4 massive rally, which was staged peacefully.

          Earlier, Jokowi asked the Indonesian Police to conduct firm legal enforcement and not to hesitate in imposing it to any small groups, organizations or figures.

           "Don't hesitate in imposing firm legal enforcement. It must not be allowed that a big institution like Polri (Indonesian Police) hesitating to impose it on any small groups, organizations or figures," the president said, while giving directives to 602 high-ranking police officers in the Police Headquarters on Nov 8.

         Clear and firm legal enforcement will make the country strong, and it is in the hand of the police, he added.

            "Polri, as a big institution having 430 thousand members, must not hesitate in carrying out firm legal enforcement," he said. ***2***
(f001/INE)    
EDITED BY INE

(T.F001/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 19-11-2016 15:54