Playing Down FPI Threat, Basuki Says He, Too, Rejects Hard-Line Group

The Jakarta Globe, Sep 22, 2014


Jakarta. Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama of Jakarta has played down a threat by the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) to protest and reject his appointment as leader of the capital once Governor Joko Widodo assumes his presidential post in October.

“I am fine with it. I, too, reject the FPI,” he told journalists at City Hall on Monday, as quoted by Indonesian news portal Liputan6.com.

Basuki said he has been informed about the protest and was ready to welcome the move as long as protestors follow the proper procedure for such rallies.

He said he was accustomed to ethnicity, religion and racial-related public resistance, but called on the FPI not to raise such issues during their protest on Wednesday.

“There is a law [that regulates those issues]. If they talk or threaten [others] on the basis of religion and race, they could be criminally charged. Let’s just wait for it. If there is any evidence of them committing any offense [on those issues], we will have no mercy,” he said.

Basuki, a Christian of Chinese descent, further emphasized that he was not worried by the threats, as he stands by the 2004 regional administration law which backs the appointment of deputy regional chiefs to helm the administration once a leader steps down from his position before the end of his term.

As previously reported, the FPI’s Jakarta chapter plans to hold a massive rally on Wednesday at the Jakarta City Council (DPRD) to express its disapproval of Basuki’s impending appointment as governor.

The group demanded that Basuki — who it had called an arrogant infidel — not to be installed as governor to replace President-elect Joko.

“He is not a Muslim and he is too arrogant. His words are rude and he calls people names. It’s inappropriate for a public official to act that way,” FPI Jakarta chief Slaim Bin Umar Alatas told the Jakarta Globe last week.

The group claimed it would be deploying thousands of protesters on Wednesday and that it would not back down until its demands are met.



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