Jakarta’s Bizarre ‘Blasphemy’ Trial – Frozen Till AFTER Votes Counted?

So there’s been a call from the police for the North Jakarta
District Court suggesting them to postpone the religious blasphemy trial involving Ahok?

Sounds like Tempo’s standard of English grammar is declining towards Jakarta Post level.

Even my former teenage students would have known to write ‘suggesting that they postpone…’

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But skip it.

Why are the police taking this extraordinary step?

Well, Metro Jaya Police Sr. Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono has told Tempo why.

Argo explained that the letter was issued in an effort to maintain security and order in Jakarta, and to allow preparation for the upcoming gubernatorial election to run smoothly.

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“Considering that the trial will be held close to the voting day, there are possibilities of mass mobilization. Therefore, [the letter] was issued to minimize such possibilities…”

Police Urge Court to Postpone Ahok Trial

Ahok

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What’s surely most important is that Ahok gets a fair trial – to the extent that anyone going on trial for an offence as absurd as ‘blasphemy’ can get a fair trial…

[[[[

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 – and that he knows what fate awaits him ASAP…as soon as possible!

If the court rules that he’s innocent, then that will obviously impact on his electoral prospects.

Sectarian savages will never vote for him, but thanks be, they are a minority…

Jakarta Mosque – Yellow-Bellies Bash, Spit On, Journos! 

….but a lot of everyday people, confused by ignoramus propaganda, will be much more likely to come out and cast their ballots for him if he’s acquitted.  .

If, and any system that can put a man on trial for ‘blasphemy’ can just as easily find him guilty, IF Ahok is found guilty, it will harm his chances.

No matter the logic or morality of the case, a guilty verdict would hurt him. Rational people may ignore such mediaeval stuff, but a lot of Jakartans have little education and might think that a conviction for ‘blasphemy’ in the 21st century actually means something to our good Governor’s discredit.

But EITHER way, surely the citizens of Jakarta – and Ahok himself – deserve to know the judicial score, BEFORE they vote?

If there are indeed what Pak Argo calls possibilities of mass mobilization – and I dare say he’s right – then the police officers on duty are surely entitled to use every means at their disposal…

Breaking News – Jakarta Cops Tear-Gas Islamist Louts! 

….to quell the sort of Islamist hoodlum thuggery we saw at the other anti-Ahok ‘Long Marches’ (aka fanatic shufflings!)

 

With Huge Support From Decent Muslims, Ahok Fights On!

Looks like Ahok has got over forty percent of the votes in Jakarta’s gubernatorial election.

oooooooooooooo

• 
• oooooooooooooooo

• Facing a second round, in the absence of the 50% he needs, he will now be up against Anies, who distinguished himself this month by winning the smile of the fanatic who wants to see Ahok put to death for quoting from the Koran.

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• I’m certainly not saying that all those who voted for either of the rival candidates did so because of bigotry.
• There are numerous reasons why people mark ballot papers one way or the other.
• But I do say that all those many, many Muslims here in Jakarta who voted for Ahok showed maturity and character by refusing to heed the vile sectarian howling that threatened to drown out debate during the campaign…
• …..
• .
• ……..
• ….the deranged assertion that they dare not vote for somebody  – anybody – who doesn’t follow their particular religious path.

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Without the votes of so many Muslims, Ahok could not have secured more than ten percent of the Jakarta electorate, at the most!

Such support for a man under attack by every evil element in the archipelago gives hope to all of us who love Indonesia and wish her well.

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Jakarta Kampanye – Meskipun Hujan Besar!

Last campaigning day, before Jakarta’s gubernatorial election on Wednesday.

After suggesting folks stay home today to avoid the disruption that might rise from the various events, I woke to thunderous rainfall, so no way would I have gone out anyway. Besides, a visitor was on the way.

But I did decide to watch Metro TV’s coverage.

It was particularly pleasant to contemplate the anti-Ahok bigot brigade getting soaked on their way to their ‘prayer rally!’

The rain abated and they’ll be dried out at home by now, mulling over which of the other two candidates is best placed to defeat the Christian incumbent, Ahok, whom they so abhor.

But the candidates’ rallies were interesting.

Ahok had his indoors, in some grand hotel, where those big ballrooms can hold huge numbers of people. 

00000000000

•  Ahok
• ——-
• I missed his speech today, but heard him when I watched the final debate on TV this week.
• Although I strongly disagreed with what he did at Kali Jodo…
  

  Wong Cilik, Ahok, TNI – Tragedi Kali Jodo! 

  …I have to say he manfully defend that episode during the debate.

oooooooooooooooooooooo

– Agus

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Agus Yudhoyono held an open-air gathering, somewhere in posh Kuningan, where  I was intrigued by his willingness to be bounced up into the air over and over again by his enthusiastic fans.

At least I assume it was he.

If so, I applaud his commitment to vote-getting.  Even when I was in local politics, far from Indonesia, many years ago, and somewhat famous locally for my ability to attract publicity, I never did that!

oooooooooooo

Nor did Anies Beswaden.

He comes across as a staid character, which is more than can be said for the show-biz star he had out with him today.

Rhoma Irama is called The King of Dangdut here, and musically he is gifted. But his fanatical Islamist character has more often caught out attention.

00000=

Irama–  ‘Muslims need the FPI!’

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“I was only reciting An-Nisa Surah verse 144, in which God says firmly that the faithful are banned from voting for a kafir [infidel] as their leader,” Rhoma Irama said in a press conference before being questioned by the Jakarta Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu Jakarta). 
“Muslims who vote for a non-Muslim leader become an enemy of God,” he added.  Jakarta Globe, 6/8/12

See also –

• When asked about his attitude about Ahmadiyah , Rhoma immediately replied firmly …” As for religious harmony,  eliminate religions that are destructive , ” said Rhoma after a press conference held at the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel , Central Jakarta, Thursday ( 5th December ) Cry-Baby Islamist Wannabe – “Religious Harmony? Eliminate Destructive Religions!” 

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After Anies was headlined for hanging out with the white-shirt vigilante gang…

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Baswedan, basking in FPI smiles

Another ‘Moderate’ Muslim Hanging Out With Da Gang? 

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… his decision to have Cry-Baby as his foremost entertainer might suggest a lapse of judgement, but never mind.

Then Metro took us back to the studio, where a yummy lady held court, much analysis and comment from various folks.

That went on and on, so much so I nodded off!

 

Wow! Jakarta Debate – Ira Koesno Ain’t No Rotten Raddatz!

I tuned into the debate last night.

The Jakarta gubernatorial election debate that is, and purely by accident, because it was on Trans TV and I was waiting to see which one of their tiresome repeats they’d present as our weekend treat. In the end it turned out be A Man Apart.

I enjoyed that the first time I saw it, some years ago.

–

–

Now…not so much.

Can’t Trans TV do better?

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But whilst awaiting cinematic delights, it was interesting to watch Ahok taking on his two rivals, and nice to see a cheering crowd of supporters among the studio audience.

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• 
• Ahok
• =

Interesting also to learn that some 1700 police officers had been detailed to make sure all went safely, a wise precaution when so many Islamist fanatics have been heard demanding his death for no rational reason.

So Has Indonesia Come To This? Paradise Lost? 

The debate wasn’t as much fun as any of those Trump-Clinton clashes!

Yet the moderator was a lot less biased than some of those individuals who filled that role in the recent US presidential election debates – one of those got all boo-hoo, when it was clear Trump was winning!

===

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Hillary Shill Martha Raddatz Starts To Cry Over Trump Victory – YouTube

 Almost needless to say, ABC’s Martha Raddatz denied it!

But you can be the judge!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb0Zc6y3FMo

ooooooooooooooo

As for the Indonesian debate, I won’t say which candidate was most persuasive, as I only saw part of it. 

That lady doing the moderating, however, was downright impressive, telling the turbulent fans, of all sides, to pipe down or the show would not go on!

And who was this paragon of imperious impartiality?

ooooooo

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Ira Koesno!

English readers might like to know that she is apparently a Chelsea supporter!

Incredibly, she is also forty seven years old, which you may or may not believe, but I can assure you that the photo above is an reflection of her appearance.

She’s drop-dead gorgeous!

And living proof of what I have often said, that Indonesian women are among the most lovely in the world..

An Apostate Attacks Ahok – Denies Right To Criticise!

A most peculiar woman, Irena Handono.

She was apparently, once upon a time, a Catholic nun. Then she turned apostate, converting to Islam.

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• 

Irena Handono

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• Fair enough.
• I’m not one of those people who would harm, or even disrespect, apostates.
• Anyone should have the right to change religion, if they decide the one they grew up in is wrong for them.

————

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That’s what religious liberty is all about, using your God-given brain to think and work out the rights and wrongs  of the meaning of life, and death.

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If a Muslim wants to become a Christian, he or she has the absolute right to do so, just as Irena had the absolute right to leave her Catholic faith and become Muslim.

Apostasy should NEVER be a crime.

Irena went on to become an ‘Islamic preacher.‘  http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/01/10/former-nun-turned-muslim-preacher-testifies-against-ahok.html

And obviously an Islamic preacher of the extremist variety, because she is one of those fanatics who wants Jakarta Governor Ahok to be convicted of ‘blasphemy.’

Of course the idea of ‘blasphemy’ being a ‘crime’ seems absurd to most people in the countries I used to live in, but here in Indonesia, there is, alas, a law against it.

But Islamist Irena seems to interpret ‘blasphemy’ rather more widely than most of us would.

If you are crass or crude or just plain stupid enough to say rude things about God Almighty, then, yes, that surely counts as ‘blasphemy.’

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• 
• ======

• Blasphemy is basically an exalted variety of bad manners, and God Almighty, being both omniscient and omnipotent, will be aware of such ill-advised rudeness, and more than capable of  retaliation.  
• That’s why it seems so daft to use man-made legislation to deal with it.
• But Islamist Irena appears to reckon that it’s not only discourtesy to the Deity that needs to be checked.
• “As a non-Muslim, Ahok should not criticize Islam,” she said. 
• WHAT?
• Why not?
• Why should non-Muslims not be free to criticise Islam?
• One of the foremost Muslim fanatics demanding that Ahok be punished – actually, killed.. – is Habib Rizieq, of the FPI, the self-styled ‘Islam Defenders Front.’
• And he recently mocked Christianity in rather crass terms.
• So what is sauce for the goose should surely be sauce for the gander, no?
• However, whilst searching for a photo of Islamist Irena, what should I find but that one up above.
• And if you examine it carefully, you’ll see that it shows her at an ‘International Women’s Conference!‘
• Whose International Women’s Conference?

• 

HIZBUT TAHRIR INDONESIA’S! 

And as we know, Hizbut T is SO far-out that even many Muslim countries have banned it. Cast-Iron promised to do so in the UK, but that was just another of his lies. 

Hizbut Tahrir UK – “When ‘Moderates’ Talk of Peace, They’re Lying!” 

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====

HT categorically rejects democracy and wants all currently independent nations subjugated to a global caliphate.

We’ve covered this califofascist gang before, more than once. 

Indonesia Retains Red Ban – So Why Not HTI Too? 

——-

 ‘Wipe Israel Off the World Map’ – Hizbut Tahrir

….…

—–

‘Charlie Hebdo, Proof that Democracy’s Rotten’  – Hizbut Tahrir

—–

Hizbut Tahrir Non-Violent? Implement The Promised Ban! –

So obviously no patriot or democrat in Indonesia, or any country, should associate, in any way, with such an outfit, much less participate in their conferences.

However, our little bit of research does explain a lot, about both Apostate Irena’s testimony against Ahok, and about her ridiculous assertion that her religion should be above criticism.

Oh, and you can watch her on You Tube, if you speak Indonesian.

MMC News_Ustazh. Irene Handono; Campakkan Demokrasi Sistem Jadul, Tegakkan Khilafah.

Basically, she’s ranting about how ‘Democracy’s Done, Let’s Establish the Caliphate.’

 

, 

 

(Read also: Ahok’s lawyers criticize witness’ background, noting

Jakarta – Decent Muslims Challenge Islamist Witch-Hunt!

Home at last, and just in time, as I can hear the rain beating down outside.

=

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However, this morning I was delighted to wake to another sunny Jakarta day, and even more delighted to see the headline in The Jakarta Globe this week…

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We are devoted Muslims, not offended by Ahok’s statement…

The report comes from the Pulau Seribu ( Thousand Islands) – just off the northern shore of our ever-interesting capital city – islands where I once spent a most pleasant short break.

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• 
• ===========

• The islands are a popular weekend destination for less affluent people here, not expensive to reach or to stay over for a night or two.
• But they have been in the headlines a lot here recently…
• —
•  Jakarta’s Governor Ahok
• –

• …because that was where Governor Ahok made his jocular aside for which the worst elements in Indonesia want him put to death.

• “We encourage the government to process the death penalty for Ahok as soon as possible,” said Rizieq.  http://www.suara.com/news/2016/10/14/134313/

• That’s Habib Rizieq, so-called ‘high priest’ of the self-styled “Islam Defenders’ Front” – the notorious white-shirt vigilante gang, the FPI.
• But now the overwhelmingly Muslim population of those islands have made their voice heard, refuting the bigot claim that his joke was ‘blasphemy.’
• The Chairman of the Al Makmuriah Great Mosque board there, Faturrahman, set the record straight – he was actually present when Ahok made his speech that day – by saying that what Ahok said was not insulting and did not defame Islam…We are devoted Muslims, not offended by Ahok’s statement …
• It’s to be hoped that many more decent Muslims will dissociate themselves from the witch-hunt, perhaps in response to the way some of the fanatics openly talk down to them.
• Last week, the FPI, who are notoriously sexist as well as sectarian…

IslamoNazi Gauleiter – “Women Already Have Limitations, Let Alone Non-Muslims!” 

…hit a new low in talking down to Muslims who don’t share their arrogant attitude, by which I mean their claim to be more qualified than others on who is and who isn’t Muslim enough.                       Jakarta Mosque Mayhem – IslamoNazi Louts Silence Moderate! 

————————

Yet another Habib  -the name’s said to denote descent from their Prophet!  Habibs Galore – White-Shirt Gang Leaders Go On Trial! 

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Their Jakarta Gauleiter, Habib Novel Bakmukmin  – the same geezer who dissed women with that outburst about their ‘limitations’ – seemed to evince an almost archaic snobbery when he  called the residents who laughed upon hearing Ahok’s statement –

• – wait for it –

‘COMMONERS!’ 

---

…….

Hell, that sounds as stuck-up as some of the pinko expats who send me insulting snobbish comments about how I so disgracefully live and work and dine out among ordinary Indonesian folks. 

 

Another ‘Moderate’ Muslim Hanging Out With Da Gang?

—

But alas, it’s becoming ever more difficult to highlight the truth about Indonesia, which is that most Muslims here are not Arabised klutzes who want a caliphate, but, on the contrary, rather nice, normal people whom I mix with on a regular basis.

We’ve seen, in the recent past, leaders like the Mayor of Bogor,...

oooooooooooo

.

Bogor Mayor Bima Arya

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X-Rated Xmas – Foul-Mouths Bully Christians, As ‘Moderate’Mayor Denies They Exist!’ 

….once hailed as a ‘moderate,’ who got elected then continued the oppressive policy of his Islamist predecessor, targetting local Christians, denying them access to their own church despite a Supreme Court ruling in their favour.

Now we have another so-called ‘moderate’  – a fellow famed for his ‘moderation,’ so it’s said – showing up to grub for votes at an ‘event’ staged by the notorious hate-gang, the IslamoNazi FPI.

======================

• 

Hate-gang on the march in Jakarta

——————

• You can read the whole story, in the Sydney Morning Herald, of all places Jakarta governor contender Anies Baswedan under fire for meeting …and such international attention indicates the extent of the problem, currently exemplified by a geezer named Anies Baswedan.
• Anies Baswedan is running for the position of Governor of Jakarta, against the incumbent, Ahok.

==============

•  Ahok

====

• Ahok’s campaign is doing quite well, despite the fact he’s on trial for ‘blasphemy…’
• –
• \
• /
• /
• ————–
• …an offence one expects to find mentioned in history books, not in the courts of the “world’s largest Muslim democracy,” as this big country is often described.
• One of those loudest in demands for the most bizarre prosecution is Habib Rizieq, a fanatic who has publicly said the accused governor should be killed!
• ….

• “We encourage the government to process the death penalty for Ahok as soon as possible,” said Rizieq.  http://www.suara.com/news/2016/10/14/134313/

• One might expect that respectable politicians would support free speech, on religion or anything else, or at least denounce deranged death demands.

• Or at the VERY least avoid at all costs public association with a man like Rizieq. 

• NOT Anies Baswedan!

He opted to share a platform with that ranting Islamist, seen with Anies in the photo below.

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Baswedan, basking in Rizieq’s smiles

.=============

One of Anies’ men told the SMH that the whole thing had been blown out of proportion because it was the FPI. “We understand that.”

Imagine if a candidate for Mayor of New York  or any American, or British, or Australian city had agreed to honour a KKK rally with his or her presence!

That too might have been blown out of proportion, and no wonder.

Decent people do NOT consort with sectarian vigilante gangs – or at least should not.

For those of use who love Indonesia, this is little short of heart-breaking.

As it is for millions of decent Indonesian too, one of whom is also quoted in the SMH –

“Will this picture be remembered as the day moderates die?” tweeted Evan Laksmana, an analyst with the ‎Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Indonesia.

He’s not the only Indonesian lamenting that “Anies Baswedan, once known as a global voice of moderate Islam, campaigned at FPI HQ.”

–

Never mind.

There’s a third candidate, Agus Yudhoyono, son of ex-President SBY. Agus has not seen fit to, and is unlikely to, repudiate his father’s unforgettable call for Indonesia’s awful ‘blasphemy’ law to be made a global fatwa.

SBY to ask the world to ban blasphemy | The Jakarta Post

• No reasons to becheerful then, if Agus comes out on top.
• So this morning, awaiting the arrival of a welcome Indonesian visitor, then later hoping to sit out front in the glorious Indonesian sunshine…

————–

• 
• ——-

• …maybe after a lunch in my local warteg –  $1.50 for a big plate of yummy Indonesian food! – perhaps you can understand why I don’t dwell as much as once I did on Indonesian news. 

It’s simply too depressing. 

Blasphemy? Rizieq Should NOT Be Prosecuted – Nor Ahok!

Some words in the news here in Indonesia, or rather the sentence of which they form part, are obviously facile and insulting to Christians.

“If God gave birth, then who would be the midwife?”.   http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/12/28/police-start-investigating-fpi-leader-blasphemy-case.html

They are also currently the focus of a new ‘blasphemy’ row, with the doyen of the largest Islamist fanatic gang in Indonesia reported to police by two separate organisations, one Christian, one not.

The second one comprises Muslims,  a spokesman saying –

“We are focusing on hate speech….he clearly mocked other religion’s teachings … It has the potential to destroy Indonesia’s diversity.”

 jakartaglobe.id/news/fpis-rizieq-shabib-reported-police-hate-speech-blasphemy/.

If the Police decide to charge Habib Rizieq with ‘blasphemy,’ he could face five years in prison.

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• 
• ===========

• Such a break from his usual unpleasant activities might be no bad thing! 
• I am no fan of Rizieq, and have made clear time and again my detestation of his white-shirt thugs.
• ———–

• But if there is to be punitive action by the authorities against the self-styled ‘Islam Defenders’ Front’ ( FPI) it should be taken in response to violence and vandalism perpetrated against innocent people.

—

——

We have reported on it often enough, the FPI’s thuggish intimidation, and their cowardice…

—

IslamoNazis V Freedom-Fighters? – Some Chicken, Some Neck! 

…and there is a strong argument that it should be outlawed, like the PKI, the Indonesian Communist Party.

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• 
• =======

• But ‘blasphemy’ charges?
• I tend to liken stuff like that to mediaeval witch-hunting – it should not be a crime anywhere in the modern world.

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• 
• ——-

• If God does not like what He hears or sees (and I imagine, if He watches what goes in the world He created, He must be horrified most days!) then, as an omnipotent deity, He is more than capable of dishing out appropriate penalties to those who offend Him.

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—

If His Name is taken in vain, why would He, in His infinite wisdom, deign to notice? The wittering of mere mortals must rank pretty low in His ‘to-do’ list.  

Insulting God Almighty, calling Him rude names, or creating disgusting depictions of Him, is low-brow, infantile activity by which some dregs of society have sought to make themselves noticed, people like that obnoxious Andres Serrano. 

Andres Serrano’s controversial Piss Christ goes on view in New York

Serrano’s sicko ‘work of art’ was grotesque, and undoubtedly hurt the feelings of very many good people. But hurting people’s feelings should not be a crime. 

• 

–

Mockery is an integral part of free expression, including mockery of religion, or of specific religions. Their practitioners often deserve a lot of what they get, especially when ‘believers’ who talk about ‘peace’ engage in anti-social or downright lawless behaviour.

‘Religious’ individuals who invoke God in order to go into tantrum mode over trivial things like cartoons should be sent for therapy.

If they turn their tantrums into murderous activity…

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=========

…and by that I mean incitement to murder too…

———

• 
• —————-

• …then they should be locked up.
• But Rizieq’s gabbling about ‘God giving birth’ should no more be cause for incarceration, or prosecution, than Governor Ahok’s reference to a verse from the Koran.

• —-

• “We encourage the government to process the death penalty for Ahok as soon as possible,” said Rizieq.  http://www.suara.com/news/2016/10/14/134313/

• Neither of them should have to risk jail, or any punishment, for ‘offending’ others. 
• ======================
• —–
• 
• President Jokowi and Governor Ahok

————————–

• President Jokowi promised a ‘Mind-Set Revolution’ during his election campaign. 
• To many of us who care about Indonesia, the Blasphemy Law, and the viciously discriminatory Tri-Ministerial Decree (issued by Jokowi’s predecessor, SBY) are obstructions to progress towards the modern democratic society envisaged when he coined that slogan.  

Good Muslims Speak Up For Threatened Christian Governor

Wearing the iconic blue and red plaid shirts, the protesters carried signs that read, “We are Muslims who forgive Ahok” and “Release Ahok”.

This is good news.

I do try to get across the truth about Indonesia, which is seen by many people overseas as a hot-bed of extremists.

Not so.

Most Muslims here, and I know and count as friends a fair number of them, have no interest in backward bigotry. The opinion polls here show that, while Ahok has lost ground in next year’s gubernatorial election campaign…

………….

———

…he has millions of Muslim voters still ready to support him.

Indeed, a survey published last week –

http://jakartaglobe.id/news/jakartans-fairly-satisfied-ahok-governor-poll/ 

 – has him ahead again.

oooooooooooooo

“We were trying to display support for Ahok and send a message to the judges and other people that there are Muslims who support tolerance and a fair trial,” Yayong Waryono of the Bara-Badja (Volunteer Front for Basuki and Djarot) 

(Basuki is Ahok’s formal name, Djarot is his running-mate)

Yayong said they decided to stage a rally because they were concerned with the hundreds of anti-Ahok protestors “trying to put pressure on the panel of judges”.

We really need to ponder that ‘pressure’ too, after President Jokowi himself chose to appear on the same platform as Indonesia’s chief IslamoNazi, Habib Rizieq…

• 

 

So Has Indonesia Come To This? Paradise Lost? 

…before a mob bent on exacting punishment for a ‘crime’ that in most of your countries would not be considered a crime at all.

Prosecutors claimed that despite the blasphemy allegation that stirred public controversy, it was the crime that brought Ahok to court, not the public pressure.  http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/12/21/ahok-supporters-finding-new-strength.html

‘Public pressure?’ Is that even the right phrase to apply to the fulminations of hate-groups whose leaders have said Ahok should be killed.  

——-

“We encourage the government to process the death penalty for Ahok as soon as possible,” said Rizieq.  http://www.suara.com/news/2016/10/14/134313/

---

No wonder the police have repeatedly voiced concerns over possible security issues during the trial hearings and asked the Supreme Court to consider relocating the trial… 

If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will be aware of what can happen if savages don’t like the outcome of a trial of this sort. 

Islamonazis Bring Shame to Temanggung, Censorship to Tasikmalaya 

We’ll keep covering this disturbing saga.

So Has Indonesia Come To This? Paradise Lost?

Nearer twenty than ten years in Indonesia, and today, for the first time ever, I began to wonder if my long-cherished plans to spend the rest of my life here might be at risk of derailment.

• I was watching, from time to time, the so-called Peace Action, the demonstration that brought all the most fanatical Islamists in the archipelago together, to seek the severest possible punishment for Jakarta Governor Ahok…

—–

—–

… who had the temerity to mention a Koranic verse in one of his re-election campaign speeches, in terms which got the jihadist elements all hot and bothered.

Suddenly I was taken aback,

There was President Jokowi, with other senior members of his government ON THE STAGE, with Indonesia’s most infamous bigots.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

• 
• 00000000000000

• He was almost side by side with Habib Rizieq, of the FPI white-shirts, the  self-styled ‘Islam Defenders Front,’ a notorious sectarian gang. Just a couple of weeks ago, Rizieq was ranting that Ahok deserved the death penalty !

Only Jokowi’s Security Minister, Wiranto, stood between them. Nobody looked at all uncomfortable or abashed at this proximity. Rizieq looked delighted.

And there’s more. 

At a public rally at the National Monument, hundreds of thousands of member of the mob held Friday prayers in the rain. Before the prayer, Habib Rizieq Shihab become their preachers and delivered a sermon.

———–

• 
• ————–

• Rizieq’s sermon was heard by all participants, and even President Joko Widodo also listened to the preaching of the high priest of the Islamic Defenders Front.

As the number one in the Islamic Defenders Front, he said, the Koran is the holy book – there was no ambiguity in it.

“Do not make fun of the Koran. Whosoever mocks the Quran, then he is an apostate,” he said.

Jokowi, while listening to a Tizieq’s sermon…along with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Wiranto.

Based on the observation of Jawapos.com, Jokowi also several times bowed like a person fervently listening…while Police Chief Tito Karnavian was on the stage along with Rizieq.

http://www.jawapos.com/read/2016/12/02/68210/lihat-nih-jokowi-sangat-khusyuk-dengarkan-khotbah-habib -rizieq

So is there nobody left in the political and security establishment here who might feel a pang of conscience about being part and parcel of a hate-rally organised to put down ‘apostates?’

When I was sitting there, listening to the President’s repeated intonations of Allahu Akbar, I found my thoughts straying…

—

—

….to wonder about what it might be like living in some other tropical climate…