Outspoken deputy Gov confronts protesters

Sita W. Dewi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Jakarta | Tue, July 30 2013, 11:22 AM


Show of aggression: Two Betawi fighters from social organizations united under the Jakarta People Sealing Ahok’s Mouth (Rajjam) movement stage a protest outside City Hall on Monday. They demanded that Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama apologize to Councilor Abraham Lunggana for the former’s statement, which they deemed an insult to the Betawi figure, also known as Haji Lulung. JP/P.J. Leo

Protests have started to mount against Deputy Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama over his strong remarks on several issues. Hundreds of social organizations on Monday united under the Jakarta People Sealing Ahok’s Mouth (Rajjam) movement staged a protest outside City Hall, criticizing the deputy governor’s statements that they deemed inappropriate.

“The deputy governor has made inappropriate statements, for example he said that Tanah Abang street vendors were all thugs. He also once criticized Lulung, saying that Lulung didn’t understand bylaws,” one of the protesters said, referring to Abraham Lunggana, or known as Betawi figure Haji Lulung, a City Council deputy speaker.

Ahok criticized the deputy speaker after the latter fumed over the deputy governor’s statement, insinuating that a city councilor was behind prolonged issues crippling Tanah Abang market area in Central Jakarta. Ahok had been quoted as saying that Lulung “did not understand bylaws.”

After about an hour of protests, dozens of protesters managed to meet with Public Order Agency head Kukuh Hadi Santoso, to whom they expressed that they wanted Ahok to make a public apology. Ahok met with five representatives and spoke with Lulung over the phone, promising to meet with him privately in the near future to discuss the issue.

A group of squatters around Pluit Dam in North Jakarta also protested against the outspoken deputy governor, accusing him of calling them “communists” for requesting free housing.

University of Indonesia political expert Boni Hargens said that Ahok’s controversial statements might be used against him should the latter replace Joko “Jokowi” Widodo as governor.

“Jokowi has been named as one of the most electable presidential candidates in the 2014 election. If Jokowi run for president and wins, Ahok will become the governor. Some people may not like this and might use his statements to attack him,” he said.

Boni acknowledged, however, that Ahok’s assertiveness was worthy of praise.

“But he should tone down his emotionally-driven statements a little bit,” he said.

The city administration has vowed that it will not back out from its ambitious aim to clear the Tanah Abang market area from street vendors, illegal parking and thuggery.

Jakarta Transportation Agency head Udar Pristono pledged that the agency would be take action after Idul Fitri. “They can’t go back to their spots as they will be facing legal sanctions, including fine and jail terms, in compliance with bylaws.”

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that the police would continue their raids on thugs in Tanah Abang market as well after Idul Fitri.

“The city administration has ordered us to wait until after Idul Fitri,” Rikwanto said. “After that we will search for thugs who allegedly rented stalls on the streets, because we need to catch them before dealing with the street vendors.”

Jokowi said that as of Monday morning, more than 300 street vendors had registered themselves to city-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya to move into the Block G building of Tanah Abang market —the largest textile and clothing market in Southeast Asia. (ian)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/07/30/outspoken-deputy-gov-confronts-protesters.html