By : Lieutenant General (Ret) Soedibyo, Political and Security Observer. Former State Intelligence Coordination Agency (Bakin’s) Chief                  

The national political situation of Jakarta  was again illustrated   by the mass action who were active around the National Monument   and in front of the Palace as permitted by the Police  on Friday  March  31, 2017 and accordingly  they called their action as 313 mass Action. Though it is believed done by the similar elements  but this mass action was organized by another group called the Islamic Peoples Forum, led by Muhammad  Al-Khaththath.  The mass actions happened before were organized by  the  National Movement to Save the Statement of the Indonesian Council of Ullema, led by Habib Rizieg.

The Police  who  has  strong indication that  an excessive mass action that could provoke the  mass action to embark to become the big political riot disturbing the national stability of Jakarta  may  happen  to have made  the early security action to capture all  the organizer of  313 mass action (Mohammadf Al-Khaththath group) based on the Security Regulation against “makar”.

This Police Security Action  were  severally  protested by various groups of  activist and  politician  who described it as the non-democratic action and  indicating the government is not wishing to be criticized.

However definitely  the description on operation against “makar” is  officially existing in the Standard Operating Procedure  on Counter Action Against the National Threat. “Makar” is accordingly any action disturbing the national stability that could be endangering  the existence of the National Government.

However the  security terminology that is called “makar” that means any action disturbing the national stability that could be endangering  the existence of the  government has apparently sound dramatic and as if the country is in serious critical situation.

Officially  a group of activists  of Muhammadiyah organization plan to appeal the Constitutional Court to consider correcting this security terminology  proportionally avoiding  the dramatic  image  concerning the situation of the country and provoking   the non-democratic  action of the security organization.  They argue the mass action is just specific democratic expression of the society on a specific situation or specific  demand addressing  to the Government.

This article is intended to soften the political impact of the respective  security terminology  of “makar”  as just a security action to maintain  the national stability and the existing of the firm government authority.

Ahok’s Case Will Be Solved

In term of the present situation Observers tend to analyze   the use of the word “makar”  is felt exaggerated  and un-justified  Government action  in solving  of the problem they considered  as serious criminal action  affected   by the  suspected political evil  done  by one believed genius prominent figure  but the people considered him  as   cunning  politician, namely  Ahok.  Ahok is likely a professional  technocrat  and   capable country   administrator but also likely   a  cunning   politician in political power built up. He skillfully analyze the popular political ideology moving stronger with whom  he should join in. Ahok preiously was a Gokar politician, then he is joining Gerindra Party and now he likiely tries to jump into the PDI-P Party.

Ahok is considered a professional Governor of  the Province of Jakarta.  But  being a non-Moslem  Politician  Ahok has made comment  about   the Verse of Al Maida  Article 51 of Al Quran as  his political statement  as the Governor Candidate in the Regional Election of Jakarta. He has used Al Maida  Article 51 to save his political interest but he does not definitely know what is actually the Verse of Al Maida Article 51 of Al Quran. He tried to influence the majority people of the island of “Seribu” using the Islamic religion but  he tried to manipulate the meaning of Al Maida Article 51 to cheat the people. Someone had reported Ahok’s speech and the Attorney General  agreed with the report and sent it to Court for  judge.

The Court had made the  temporary decision stating that the Council of Judges agree  with the demand of the Attorney General accusing Ahok to have  committed  to insult the Islamic religion and accordingly the court is proceeded  on and to decide Ahok  as the defendant.  Ahok   based on the record                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    to be accused to have made  a speech in front of a group of Officials and local people about the progress of the  agricultural  program in the island of “Seribu”. Ahok  said the people of the island of  “Seribu” should not feel hesitate  to continue   this agricultural program supposed  Ahok will not be elected as the Governor in the coming Regional Election. The Agricultural Program to develop the agricultural product will be continued whoever the Governor of Jakarta is going to be. This moment happened in September 2016 a few month  before the ballot of February 17, 2017. In his speech however  Ahok expressed his hope the people of the island of “Seribu” (who are mostly Moslem)  should not follow the lie of those people  who based on the Verse of Al Maidah Article 51 of Al Quran to tell them not to elect for their leader someone of different Religion.

The speech of Ahok was not instantly responded by the listeners  but apparently it was reported by someone as insulting the Islamic religion and later on  this report had been widely spread out and responded widely among  the  Moslem. 

Ahok Gate

Democratically the House of the Representatives  had responded the problem of Ahok  as “Ahok Gate”  but unlikely the “Ahok Gate” to become the Parliamentary Official Agenda.  Being the members of the Cabinet, the majority of the Political Parties  in the House of the Representatives are supporting Ahok.

Until now the Court of “Ahok Case” had lasted for 16 times of sessions  and invited various experts  of various  field as  the Witnesses, expressing their comments to answer whether or not the speech of Ahok on September 2016 in one of island in the Island of “Seribu” to insult the Islamic Religion.

The Council of Judges have not  considered it  to have been enough and the Court  Session will be continued but  it is expected could be finished before  the “ Fasting Month”. The Ahok Case has been apparently crucial problem.  A delicate political confrontation   occasionally brought  the situation of Jakarta to be in hot confrontation between the disobedient people who wish Ahok to be punished soon and another group of people who think the development of Jakarta is full of various heavy programs that needs the firm leadership  of Ahok.

Unofficial information published by the media to have been spread  out various  rumors  circulated among the society commenting  that  during  three months of  Ahok’s on leave off  duty for Regional Election campaign the drive of working among the members of the Jakarta Gubernatorial  Office to have been identified   as decreasing.  Ahok aside from his  rude and hard leadership has been definitely an effective government administrator. Mean while the various social and heavy development project in Jakarta  are going on  and Ahok the type of leadership  is considered needed for control and supervision.

The flood and the traffic problem and the social and economic  dynamic of  the people  of  Jakarta are clearly un avoided and   continuously   moving  on that could not be stopped. It is expected Anies Baswedan if elected he  is also expected to be a strong leaders  but during the uncertainty period  until the definitive result of the regional election of Jakarta is  resulted and the definite   Jakarta Governor is promulgated and inaugurated, the dynamic of Jakarta could not  be stopped and accordingly firm leadership is definitely needed.  The various policy decision and various technical guidance have to be made. Various complicated  City problem had happened in the past and needed the strategic consideration and decision.

Those strategic problems  had been definitely should be  solved by the various heavy construction and social solution that need capable and firm leadership as  to have  been demonstrated by Ahok  skill and capability to make the decision. The Government realize Jakarta is no more small town but a gigantic Capital City of a big Country of Indonesia.

 Meanwhile the Indonesian international activities could not be stop and Jakarta  as the Capital City of Indonesia to have to be ready  becoming  the location of international events or receiving the visit of the State Guess of other Countries.  To manage Jakarta is not simple one and with a legal and political risk The Government requested the people  of Jakarta  to understand  why Ahok is not detained and even to be re-activated after he has to take   leave for Regional Election Campaign.

Likely  because of this  background consideration Ahok who has committed to  criminal legal problem to have  not been  detained and even let him still to be active as the Governor after the ballot to have been done on February 19, 2017. This policy is definitely considered as unjustified,  but likely the Government has  taken the political risk just for the State interest but firmly give the chance to Court to act   independently  and not any interfere of the Government to the sovereignty of the Court. The Government with its high risk policy is definitely responsible that Ahok with  his  freedom status granted by the Government  he will not manipulate   it  and secretly leave the country for escaping.

Definitely the Government now is protecting Ahok in order him to be normally  play his leadership to run the development of Jakarta. The Government will always respect the decision of the Court and follow what ever the decision that will be made by the Court.

Accordingly the Government wisely remind the people that radicalism use to manipulate  the religious teaching should be avoided and also the Chairman of the Indonesian Ullema Council remind  the masses that the mass action has been enough we just wait what is the punishment will be given to Ahok. 

The Council of Judges have definitely approved the demand of the  Attorney General that Ahok is mistaken but the Council of Judges need more complete reference to decide what punishment should be given to Ahok.

Now the Citizens of Jakarta are waiting  a number of un essay situation : The First Problem is the Ballot of April 19, 2017, to decide who will win the Election. Ahok  is apparently joining  this Election as the Governor Candidate of Jakarta. The Second is the Question what will be the punishment given by the Council of Judges upon Ahok.

People  should  patiently wait for the result of those two legal process. The Government realize the result of those two legal process could be a crucial problem  when Ahok is re-elected as the Governor of Jakarta, but because of his criminal act he is  punished by the Court.

The  Ahok case will be solved in  justified, accordingly the people should   keep the national situation peacefully. Those possible crucial situation is defininitely necessary to be anticipated. But everybody should believe the Police supported by TNI will keep Jakarta to be in stable situation and the President is powerful  national  leader who has the highest authority to make any decision necessary to save the country.