Approximately 2,000 residents take part in a solidarity action by lighting 1,000 candles at Tugu Titik Nol monument, Medan, North Sumatra, on Thursday evening. They demanded that the detention of inactive Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama be suspended.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The detention of Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama cannot yet be processed as the North Jakarta district court, which hosted Basuki’s case, has yet to submit the case dossier to the Jakarta High Court.
Jakarta High Court spokesperson Johanes Suhadi said in Jakarta on Thursday (11/5/2017) that a detention suspension could only be processed through a ruling by the court currently processing Basuki’s case. Because Basuki has appealed the ruling from the North Jakarta district court, the case is now under the jurisdiction of the Jakarta High Court.
“The detention suspension will be processed by the panel of judges at the Jakarta High Court. However, the panel has yet to be established as we are still waiting for the case dossier from the North Jakarta district court. After we receive the dossier and the panel of judges is established, we will be able to process the detention suspension,” Suhadi said.
Basuki’s lawyers submitted the suspension request on Tuesday afternoon after the panel of judges at the North Jakarta district court, presided over by Dwiarso Budi Santiarto, sentenced Basuki to two years in prison. The judges also ordered his immediate arrest after finding him guilty of religious defamation. After the trial, Basuki was transferred to the Cipinang penitentiary.
Basuki’s supporters gathered in front of Cipinang penitentiary up to Tuesday night. With security considerations in mind, the Law and Human Rights Ministry directorate general for penitentiaries then transferred Basuki to the penitentiary at the National Police mobile brigade command headquarters (Mako Brimob) at KelapaDua in Depok. Basuki was transferred on Wednesday at 12:30 a.m.
Cipinang penitentiary head Ade Sutandar said Basuki was transferred to Kelapa Dua as Cipinang only had 27 security officers to monitor over 3,700 inmates.
Law and Human Rights Ministry director general for penitentiaries I Wayan Kusmiantha Dusak said that throughout his stay at Mako Brimob, Basuki was treated like any other inmate. After undergoing a three-day admission and orientation processes, he will be put in a cell like other inmates.
Promotion
Three of the five judges who handled Basuki’s case at the North Jakarta district court are included among the 388 judges eligible for promotions and transfers nationwide.
The three judges are Dwiarso Budi Santiarto, promoted to serve at the Denpasar High Court in Bali; Jupriyadi, promoted to head the Bandung district court in West Java; and Abdul Rosyad, promoted to serve at the Palu High Court in Central Sulawesi.
The two other judges who handled Basuki’s case are Didi Wuryanto and I Wayan Wirjana.
The promotion of the three judges had nothing to do with their handling of Basuki’s case as they had been involved in the process for a long time.
Supreme Court (MA) spokesperson Ridwan Mansyur said promotions and transfers were regularly and routinely conducted. The 388 judges promoted and transferred had gone through a 3-to-4-month process. “The promotion of the three judges had nothing to do with their handling of Basuki’s case as they had been involved in the process for a long time,” he said.
Ridwan said it was time for Dwiarso to be promoted as many of his contemporary peers had been promoted. “If he is not promoted to a High Court, his career will be stuck at the district court,” Ridwan said.
Researcher Anugerah Rizki Akbari from the University of Indonesia’s Indonesian Judicial Watch Society (MaPPI FHUI) said openness and transparency were lacking in the MA’s process of promoting and transferring judges. As a result, it is understandable that questions arise, especially regarding the promotion of the three judges who handled Basuki’s case. “Without openness and transparency, many allegations can crop up, including that the promotion of the three judges was made in connection to their ruling,” he said.
Across regions
In the wake of the ruling on Basuki’s case, sympathy for Basuki and an awareness of the importance to safeguard Indonesia are cropping up across the country.
Many Jakartans gathered at Tugu Proklamasi in Central Jakarta on Wednesday night. They lit up candles, prayed, sang national songs and held speeches on the importance of upholding justice and safeguarding unity and diversity.
The next morning, people gathered at City Hall. Guided by noted conductor Addie MS, they sang the national anthem “Indonesia Raya” (Great Indonesia) as well as the classic patriotic songs “Rayuan Pulau Kelapa” (Solace on Coconut Island) and “Garuda Pancasila”.
Similar gatherings were seen across the archipelago. A solidarity gathering titled 1,000 Candles for Justice was held at the east car park of the Bali Bajra Sandhi monument in Denpasar, Bali. Coordinator Arief Waworuntu said the event was held to express sympathy to Basuki and to call on all Indonesians to reaffirm the collective Indonesian spirit.
Balinese community figure I Gusti Ngurah Harta said that, “Differences should not threaten the unity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. It should be a strength that unites us all.”
Some 16 universities in East Nusa Tenggara conducted a peaceful protest at Kupang’s Nostalgia Park. “The Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia is final. It must not be changed by anyone for any reason,” Kupang’s Nusa Cendana University rector Fred Benu said in his speech.
Qothrotul Falah Islamic boarding school student counseling board coordinator Nurul Huda Maarif said in Lebak, Banten, that he hoped unity would not be shattered due to differences. “We all belong to one family living in the home that is Indonesia,” he said.
