Ahok demands dismissal of ambassador for racist remark

From the Jakarta Post, 30 March 2016


Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama is on the warpath against what he claims was a racist remark made on Twitter by Ambassador to Japan Yusron Ihza Mahendra, whom he demanded be fired by Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi.

Yusron, who is the brother of Jakarta governor hopeful Yusril Ihza Mahendra, wrote on his Twitter account that “Ahok should not be arrogant. Pity the destitute, good Chinese-Indonesians who could become victims.”

"I have sent people to Minister Retno to say that this type of ambassador should not be a [representative of] Indonesia," Ahok said on Wednesday.

Ahok said Yusron’s statement was disrespectful, particularly because it was made by an Indonesian ambassador.

Ahok also accused Yusron of using religion to attack him. "Even God is not racist. You are a Muslim and I am a Christian, we breathe the same air. If God deems Christians to be infidels, He may just kill me now," Ahok said.

Previously, Ahok accused Yusril him of discrediting him by falsely claiming that the Jakarta administration would demolish the ancient Luar Batang Mosque in North Jakarta. According to a recent survey, Ahok is the strongest Jakarta gubernatorial candidate while Yusril is his closest contender.



*

Also from the Jak Pos same date,


City won't remove historic Luar Batang Mosque: Ahok

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has denied accusations the city plans to remove the historic Luar Batang Mosque and a sacred tomb in North Jakarta, saying that the administration would only evict illegal settlers from the nearby riverbanks.

Previously, former justice and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the city administration warned the residents around the historic mosque and tomb that they would be relocated, without compensation.

"We don't want to clear the Luar Batang village, but only install sheet piles along the river in the area. If Yusril said that I want to clear such areas, it is slander," Ahok told the journalist on Tuesday in Jakarta.

The administration, he continued, would only relocate illegal houses built near the river and sea. He underlined that no historic buildings would be demolished, especially the Luar Batang Mosque, which has a legal permit.

According to Ahok, the sheet piling will be installed in April and the mosque and the surrounding area would be beautified to become a cultural tourism site. "The mosque will look impressive. If you observe it from the Sunda Kelapa Harbor, you will be able to see it directly," he said.

He added that although he had not visited the mosque, he ordered the administration to repair the roads to it, put up some lamps and repaint the historic building, which dates back to about the year 1700.

"We have installed nice lamps in the tower and opened the veranda, so it looks beautiful at night. I want to make it fascinating if people look at it from the sea," Ahok said.



*