Jakarta Selasa? Just Stay At Home!

Jakarta’s Governor Anies Baswedan is not unfamiliar with the rabid sectarian fanatics who call themselves the Islam Defenders Front (FPI)….

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• Anies wins an adoring smile from ferocious FPI ‘grand imam, Habib Rizieq, who had recently suggested the Christian Governor Ahok be slain for unacceptably quoting some Koranic verse –.“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/ 
• ….

….but he may have mixed feelings about their latest move. 

Along with a clutch of other Islamist extremist bodies, including the notorious PA 212…

• The protesters, most of whom were men dressed in white Muslim attire, were heard yelling, “We want a Muslim governor,” “Burn Ahok!” and “Kafir!”   http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/thousands-hard-liners-march-against-ahok.htm

… whose ‘marchers’ so proudly showed off their civic conscience during the campaign (alas successful) to have Anies’ Christian predecessor Ahok jailed for ‘blasphemy…’

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Ahok, now thankfully out of jail

Slouching Towards Shariah

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….the FPI are taking to the streets of Indonesia’s capital tomorrow, motivated, so they claim, by the same anger that drove last Friday’s demo, namely the passage of the labor reform law.

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You may wonder why I wouldn’t join a demo organised by something calling itself the ‘National Anti-Communist Alliance,’ as there’s nobody more hostile to marxism than I am.

Let’s just say, when it comes to whom I march with, I’m a tad picky. And besides, I respect and applaud Indonesian law, that forbids non-Indonesians interfering in the country’s internal affairs.

…

That demo last Friday turned into mayhem, millions of dollars worth of damage done and hundreds, or thousands, detained by police.

Portland Indonesia? Thugs Stone Cops! Black-Clad Louts! 

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At least 11 Transjakarta bus stations were ransacked by the protestors, with the one near Hotel Indonesia roundabout burned down to the ground.

https://jakartaglobe.id/vision/thousands-clash-with-police-in-protest-against-controversial-omnibus-law

 

There is every reason to believe that demo was infiltrated by undesirables, maybe Antifa Red Nazis, or paid criminals or….who knows?

We await more details on who organised that!

Meanwhile…

Given how the FPI have displayed ferocious blood-lust in previous demos..

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…methinks Governor Anies, and the rest of us, will be hoping for no action replays.

As for me, with the relaxation of the virus rules, I was contemplating a trip into town…

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…but a trifle uncertain, as the busways were targetted for vandalism by the rabble last week and I’m not sure if all the routes are running.

….
Now, however, I have made up my mind.

Given a choice of navigating streets a-swarm with a fanatic mob, or not?

Easy decision!

Just stay home!

 

Virus Jakarta – Good Citizen Attacked, Louts Unpunished

“Pak President asked all of us to work even harder and encourage communities to be more disciplined and officials to be stricter, so we can start going back to a normal life in July..”

…

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That’s from the chief of Indonesia’s virus task force, and more power to the man, whom we see on tv every day.

But what  are the Jakarta authorities actually doing to ‘encourage communities to be more disciplined?’

While so many decent people in Jakarta are faithfully following the rules, a good citizen has been forced to apologise for..guess what?

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Being a good citizen!

Mr.Aselih, aged 62, lives in the Pulo Gadung area of the capital and admirably reported a ‘religious’ crowd of klutzes who violated the very clear anti-virus rules by attending a ‘tarawih,’ a mass gathering at a local mosque!

Aselih tagged a video of their arrogant violation to Governor Anies Baswedan’s official account.

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• 
• Anies Baswedan in campaign mode

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Quite rightly, for Anies Baswedan has said that anyone found violating the PSBB measures, such as individuals participating in public gatherings and offices of nonessential companies remaining open, would be punished…

Damn right!

But that crowd in Pulo Gadung have not, apparently, been punished, not even a little bit.

Instead, Mr. Aselih’s home came under attack by a gang of vile cowardly louts.

https://video.tribunnews.com/view/142138/kesaksian-korban-pengrusakan-rumah-oleh-sekelompok-remaja-di-pulogadung

You can see for yourselves the anti-social yellow-bellies in action, mob ‘courage,’ the kind of hoodlums who would run like mangy rats from a fair fight.

His garden was wrecked and fireworks hurled at his house.

https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/04/27/teenagers-vandalize-house-after-owner-informs-jakarta-governor-about-mass-prayer.html

The police have not arrested the rabble.

It seems they have not even had an official report – the Pulogadung district head, Bambang Pangestu, says the gutless curs have merely ‘been advised not to repeat their actions.
“They will be reported to the police if they carry out a similar action in the future,” he said.

Indonesian Muslims hold congregational Ramadan prayers despite COVID-19 warnings

Instead, the good citizen, Mr. Aselih, after ‘mediation’ with un-named ‘religious’ and other persons, has felt obliged to apologise for doing his civic duty.

An apology?!?

And a cowed deletion of  the video he sent to the governor?

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The right and proper course of action, in my view, would be for the authorities to make an example of the uppity berks who wilfully flouted the rules.

While shariah floggings are only used in Indonesia’s Aceh Province, those obnoxious young Jakarta douche-bags who ran amok in revenge deserve to be publicly shamed, paraded in manacles through the streets,  then jailed…

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…for years, rather than months.

I would have hoped that the very least Governor Anies Baswedan could do might include a visit to Mr. Aselih, personally to congratulate him.

And if the Governor’s in the neighbourhood, he could also pay a call on the buffoons who broke the rules and tell them that if they dare step out of line again, ever, then fines and/or jail-time will be their reward.

Otherwise, why would the governor expect the rest of us to listen to his exhortations?

Department For Work And Pensions? ‘An Immoral Gathering?’

I have noticed recently the initials DWP in ads and articles around Jakarta and, having lived in the UK many years ago, and been back quite often,  I wondered why..

…of all British Government ministries, the Department for Work and Pensions might be making an impact here in Indonesia’s capital.

AHA!

Whilst I have no time for the Jakarta Post…

Prabowo Faces Jakarta Post Quadrennial Gibbering! 

…on this occasion we have to thank them for explaining that the –

Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP) has been lauded as an international electronic music festival that has benefitted Jakarta tourism…

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But the JP went on to tell us that ‘not everyone is a fan of the annual event.’

Yeah, me, for a start.

Deafening, raucous reggae etc is not my scene, man.

More fun getting together with those of my own generation…

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..to enjoy the Stones, or Waylon Jennings, or Merle Haggard..

…or even the late great Buddy Holly!

But I’m not the only one disinclined to join the DWP!

A gaggle of fanatics calling itself the Islamic Youth Movement (GPI) gathered in front of City Hall in Central Jakarta on Tuesday to protest…

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The group describes the DWP as Asia’s largest immoral gathering, which encourages casual sex, as well as the consumption of drugs and alcohol. https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/12/13/muslim-groups-slam-anies-for-allowing-immoral-dwp-to-go-on.html

Hmmm…could well boost ticket-sales!

However, Jakarta Police say no such abominable activities will be countenanced.

But more interesting than the bleating of uptight Islamist adolescents is the fact that their protest is not only against the DWP but against Anies’ decision to allow the event to take place…

And who is Anies, my overseas readers may ask?

None other than Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan!

Remember him!

He vigorously wooed Islamist fanatics during his electioneering…

• • • =

      

    • Anies wins an adoring smile from ferocious fanatic Habib Rizieq, who had recently suggested the Christian Governor Ahok (Anies’ predecessor)  be slain for unacceptably quoting some Koranic verse –.“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/ 
      

      Anies used to purport to be a moderate. Then he decided he wanted to be governor.

    • But hey, now GPI head Irwan AHN is imploring his ‘beloved governor’ to think again, and the same gangs that staged grossly offensive sectarian demos.…

      The protesters, most of whom were men dressed in white Muslim attire, were heard yelling, “We want a Muslim governor,” “Burn Ahok!” and “Kafir!”   http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/14/thousands-hard-liners-march-against-ahok.htm

    • ….that led to Ahok’s prosecution, and conviction, and imprisonment, for the mediaeval ‘crime’ of ‘blasphemy,’ are reportedly turning up at the DWP venue to holler their hate.

    • Interesting situation for Anies, yeah? After all, if he wants a second term as governor, who’s he got to please?

    • n  

Such Joy, Jakarta, To Have A Caring Governor!

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said on Wednesday that the city administration would not accommodate the needs of Alexis Hotel workers who lost their jobs after the city revoked the hotel’s business permit.

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• Anies wins an adoring smile from ferocious fanatic Habib Rizieq, who had recently suggested the Christian Governor Ahok (Anies’ predecessor)  be slain for unacceptably quoting some Koranic verse –.“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/ 
• 000000000000000000000========

• Aaah, ITMA.

• We paid some attention to Anies’ rise and rise, notably how he won such a warm smile from one of the most extreme Islamists in Indonesia.

• But one cannot judge a man from the worrying words of one of his supporters.

• Fairer, surely, to take his measure by considering the humanity embodied in his own words now that he’s in power.

• =
• 
• Alexis Hotel
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• “Don’t act as if the hotel closure has caused them to suffer and they’re the victims of the closure. Everybody that worked there realized that there were violations committed by the business, which means they were all committing the violations together…”

• Aaah, that grand old principle of collective guilt.

• Funnily enough, although the Alexis was shut down because Anies averred there was prostitution going on – although we don’t know if he had ever been there to see for himself -.

  

  Kupu2 malam = Night butterflies!

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• ….we’ve heard not a word about all the big fancy five-star hotels where happy hookers prowl with impunity.

• Here’s my eye-witness account from last year.

• =
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• Alexis Harus Ditutup? Terus Gimana Hotel2 Bintang Lima? 

• ( in English, despite my headline!)
• =====

• He’s a big-hearted guy, our Governor –

• “If they’re really thinking about how they will live their lives, they should have considered that before working at a problematic company…”

• http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/03/28/former-alexis-workers-none-of-our-business-anies.html

• =====

• And off the workers go, to join the teeming ranks of unemployed Jakartans, of all races, creeds and colours – BTW, let’s not forget Anies’ commitment to pluralism.

• http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/new-jakarta-chief-stirs-ethnic-tensions-on-first-day-in-office/news-story/ 

• Meanwhile, Jakarta awaits the advent of the shariah hotels that Anies’ deputy, Sandiaga, has spoken of enthusiastically. Get Your Tickets Soon – Jakarta Shariah Tourism Boom ?. 

• What delights will these splendid edifices, when they open for business, offer tourists that the five-stars don’t?

• Special conditions of employment?

• We hope that any waitresses and maids who don’t do their jobs properly will only suffer unemployment as punishment.

• No way will the sort of brutal penalties meted out to little girls in Indonesia’s shariah province, Aceh, up north…

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  The Sharia Hell of Aceh!

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• …for ‘offences’ like holding hands with a boy-friend are going to be replicated in this once effervescent capital city.

• NOT YET!