Jakarta Globe Wins for 2015 SOPA Excellence in Opinion Writing for Editorial Coverage

Jakarta Globe, Jun 11, 2015

(JG Grab)

Jakarta. The Jakarta Globe received an award for excellence in opinion writing for its editorial coverage last year at the 2015 Awards of The Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) on Wednesday night in Hong Kong.

The Globe won in the Group B category, which is reserved for publications or websites with readership smaller than that of major newspapers and services like the International New York Times and Reuters.

One of the editorial entries was for Sept. 26, 2014, which focused on legislators’ decision in the waning days in office of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to pass a bill limiting direct elections. The title “Shame on SBY and His Non-Democrats” became a social media outcry for Indonesians, who took to Twitter by creating the hashtag #ShameOnYouSBY.

“Another example of fearless editorial commentary in a country in which it can still be dangerous to take on vested interests,” a judge commented in the decision for the award.

The SOPA Awards for Editorial Excellence were established in 1999 as a tribute to editorial excellence in both traditional and new media,  and were designed to encourage editorial vitality throughout the region, according to SOPA’s website.

Direct Elections ‘Bring Democracy Back’ to Indonesia

‘People’s Victory’ The House has ratified the emergency government regulation that restores direct elections of regional leaders

Jakarta Globe, Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Yustinus Paat,Jan 21, 2015

Ministers and other members of House Commission II after signing the perppu
 in to law. All parties in the House have committed their support to direct elections,
 though all but the Democratic Party have argued for some revision.  (Antara Photo/
Akbar Nugroho Gumay)

Jakarta. The House of Representatives on Tuesday ratified into law an emergency government regulation that restores direct elections of regional leaders in Indonesia.

The ratification quickly drew praise from analysts who said that Indonesia’s democracy was back on track.

“It’s a people’s victory,” said Arie Sudjito, a political expert from the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.

In September, the House agreed on a proposal put forward by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s government to give local legislative councils the power to appoint district heads, mayors and governors, ending nearly a decade of direct elections.

The move sparked anger from people across the country, accusing the House and Yudhoyono of betraying the people, and claiming Indonesia’s democracy had returned to a system similar with that of Suharto’s totalitarian New Order regime.

Many also feared the opposition would dominate the regional leaders posts because they dominate most of the legislative councils, opening the possibility for them to block any policies by President Joko Widodo, who at that time was declared the president-elect by the General Elections Commission (KPU) after he defeated Prabowo Subianto in a tightly contested  national election.

After seeing the public anger, Yudhoyono backpedaled, saying that he never wanted indirect elections as his Democratic Party had proposed as a revision to the existing system of direct elections.

He quickly proposed an emergency government regulation, known as perppu, while declaring that indirect election law was scrapped.

“Now, the perppu has become a law. So we can begin direct elections in many regions across the nation,” Arie said.

But the KPU would not be able to make preparations for some 200 local elections, set to be held simultaneously this year, as nine of the 10 factions at the House demanded some changes in the newly passed law.

“Each faction has presented its views, which in general accepts the perppu to be ratified into law,” said Rambe Kamarul Zaman, chairman of the House Commission II, which oversees home affairs.

Rambe was referring to the government regulation in lieu of law passed by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during his last days in office.

The perppu annulled the 2014 regional elections law, which eliminated regional elections and instead provided authority for local legislatures to appoint governors, district heads and mayors.

However, Rambe said that most factions have urged for some changes to the new law.

“We will propose a bill, drafted by House Commission II, which will improve the new law pertaining to candidate eligibility, stages of elections and public hearings, among others,” the Golkar Party politician said.

The Democratic Party, chaired by the former president, was the only party that opposed any revision arguing the law is already perfect.

“We don’t want any more revisions. The regulation itself already contains enough substance on the direct regional election system and revisions from the previous law. It already includes suggestions to make the elections better,” Commission II member Saan Mustopa, a Democrat, said on Tuesday.

Moreover, making revisions will take time and Indonesia needs the new law immediately, Saan added, as more than 200 local elections are set to be held this year.

The process of preparing more changes will affect the preparations for local elections, he stressed.

“It will be difficult for the KPU to do its job,” the politician said.

Last year, parties from the opposition Red-White Coalition, including representatives of the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Golkar Party and the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), voted in favor of abolishing regional elections.

But their stance changed after the Democratic Party announced that it would be  leaving the bloc.

All 10 factions at the House on Monday expressed their commitment to ratify the perppu. House Speaker Setya Novanto called on Commission II members to expedite the drafting of the new bill and conclude the ratification process before the House sitting period ends on Feb. 18.

“I have asked each faction to conclude the revision during this sitting period so they would not disrupt the simultaneous regional elections schedule,” said Setya, who is also a Golkar politician.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon, of Gerindra, said the revision would not change the substance of the newly passed law. He added that the changes “are very technical.”

Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said the government was open to revisions and pledged to work with the House “intensively” on the planned revisions.

Indonesians Take to Social Media to Celebrate Jokowi’s Inauguration

Jakarta Globe, Oct 20, 2014

Indonesian President Joko Widowo, center, and first lady Ariana, and Vice President
Jusuf Kalla, fourth right, and his spouse Mufidah Kalla, third right, and former President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, second left, former first lady Ani Yudhoyono, left, former
 Vice President Boediono, second right, and his spouse Herawati, right, People's
 Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Zulkifli Hasan, fourth left, and his spouse Futri
Zulya Safitry, third left, pose for photographers after the inauguration ceremony at the
House of Representative in Jakarta on Oct. 20, 2014. (AFP Photo/ Bay Ismoyo)

Jakarta. Indonesians took on their social media accounts to welcome the country’s seventh president, Joko Widodo, who was inaugurated on Monday.

The hashtag #PresidenJokowi has been the top trending topic on Twitter worldwide since Monday morning.

Social media users in Jakarta took to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Path to post pictures of the street celebrations taking place at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

For a while “Jalesveva Jayamahe”, the motto of the Indonesian Navy, also made it onto the worldwide trending topic list, after Joko cited the expression, which is Sanskrit for “In the sea we will triumph,” during his inauguration address to emphasize the importance of Indonesia becoming a global maritime axis.

Various versions of posters depicting Joko moments before his inauguration with quotations have been circulated all over the Internet as well.

Ade Mardiyanti, an Indonesian living in Sydney, posted a picture of her standing next to a television showing footage of Joko’s inauguration ceremony on her Facebook account.

“Chose to stay at home after I finished work only to witness the inauguration of Indonesia’s new president. Rocky road ahead for him. Good luck, Mr. President!” Ade wrote.

Renowned film director Joko Anwar also tweeted several pictures of the celebration.

“Rock n’Roll, Mr. President,” Joko said.

A music concert is scheduled to start at 4 p.m to celebrate the inauguration with a number of musicians including Indonesian rock band Slank and British band Arkarna scheduled to perform. Joko is famous for being a huge fan of heavy metal.

Tens of thousands are expected to attend a concert held to honor President 

Joko Widodo at the National Monument on Monday. (AFP Photo/Adek Berry)

Related Articles:

British Rock Band Arkarna to Fire Up Crowd at Jokowi’s Celebration
Jokowi’s Inaugural Speech as Nation’s Seventh President

Meet Indonesia’s New First Family

From left to right: Kahiyang Ayu, Kaesang Pangarep, President Joko Widodo, First

 Lady Iriana Widodo and Gibran Rakabuming Raka appear at the Jakarta's governor

house on Oct. 20, 2014 before the presidential inauguration. (ID Photo/Emeral)

From the Social President, a Tweet for Forgiveness

Jakarta Globe, Oct 19, 2014

Photos posted by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday showed him
 and his wife at the start of his term in 2004, left, and heading away after 10 years in
office. (Photos courtesy of @SBYudhoyono)

Jakarta. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono marked his last day in office with a message to his more than five million followers on Twitter, apologizing for any offense he may have caused in his decade as head of state.

“Please forgive me if in the 10 years of my leading this beloved country, I have said/done anything that hasn’t pleased you, the people of Indonesia,” he wrote on his account, @SBYudhoyono. The message was signed *SBY*, indicating it came from the president himself and not his social media team.

“In truth, with all our flaws, we wanted to do the best for the people and the country,” he added, signing off “with love.”

Pergi tampak punggung. pic.twitter.com/2tagNNjWIK
— S. B. Yudhoyono (@SBYudhoyono) October 19, 2014

The tweets were preceded by a picture of Yudhoyono and his wife, Kristiani, arriving at the State Palace exactly 10 years ago tomorrow, and followed by another picture, undated, of the first couple walking hand in hand away from the camera.

The hashtag #MakasihSBY (ThanksSBY) was the third-highest trending topic on Twitter in Indonesia, with more than 30,000 tweets using the hashtag.

Also on Sunday, thousands of members and supporters of Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party marched from the National Monument (Monas) to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta in a show of appreciation for the outgoing president.

Yudhoyono, the first directly elected president in Indonesia’s history, will be replaced tomorrow by Joko Widodo, the winner of the July 9 election.

Related Article:

Jokowi Thanks SBY During Welcoming Ceremony at State Palace

President Joko Widodo, left, waves with former President Susilo Bambang

 Yudhoyono at the presidential palace in Jakarta on Oct. 20, 2014. (Reuters

Photo/Mast Irham/Pool)

Jokowi and Prabowo Meet, Pledge to Maintain Stability in Govt

Jakarta Globe, Adelia Anjani Putri & Basten Gokkon, Oct 17, 2014

This file picture taken in Jakarta on July 20, 2014 shows Prabowo Subianto, left,
gesturing next to President-elect Joko Widodo, right, at the presidential palace in
Jakarta. (AFP Photo/Adek Berry)

Jakarta. President-elect Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, meeting for the first time in about three months, said that they would work together to maintain stability in government.

“[Prabowo] said to me that, in the future, should there be anything to be criticized in our administration, I’m ready because stability in state management is very important,” said Joko, who went to Prabowo’s house in South Jakarta on Friday morning.

“There’s the doer, the controller, and then there’s the criticizer. I think that’s a good thing, and I’d like to thank Prabowo for that,” Joko said.

Prabowo said that he will ask his supporters to support Joko’s presidency. Prabowo’s Red-White coalition has the majority of the seats in legislature.

“I ask my party and supporters to support Joko and the government. We will criticize him should there be policies harming the people’s interest.”

He also asked his supporters to reconcile, despite political differences between his supporters and those of Joko’s.

“I will tell my supporters that political competition is a normal thing but in the end, all that we do is to achieve the nation’s prosperity and progress,” Prabowo said. “I hope the supporters don’t see the differences and competition between us as a reason to divide the people. We must stay united as one Indonesia at all times.”

“In this friendly meeting, I congratulate Joko who will be sworn in and inaugurated as the president on Oct. 20,” Prabowo said. “I believe that he is a patriot and deep down we have the same intention to guard Indonesia’s unity and its constitution.”

Regarding Joko’s inauguration on Monday, Prabowo said he would to try his best to attend the ceremony.

“I heard the invitation will come at 3 p.m. today. It’s the norm that if one is invited, he should fulfill it. I have to go abroad tonight or tomorrow morning, but if I’m done by Sunday night, I promise to do my best to attend the ceremony,” he said. “If I can’t make it, Pak Joko already knows the reason.”

Indonesia's losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, left, gestures as he

 stands beside Indonesia's President-elect Joko Widodo after a meeting in Jakarta on
Oct. 17, 2014. Prabowo said on Friday his party would support Widodo, but would not

hesitate to criticize any of his policies that they opposed. (Reuters Photo/Beawiharta)

Related Articles:

In a Stilted Moment Between Prabowo and Jokowi, Hope for a Fresh Start
Reconciliation

SBY’s Decade in Power

Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, center, gestures to presidential

 candidates Joko Widodo, left, and Prabowo Subianto, right, prior to a prayer at the

 presidential palace in Jakarta on July 20, 2014. Jakarta governor Joko Widodo is

expected to be declared the winner of Indonesia's disputed presidential election this

 week but his rival, ex-general Prabowo Subianto, is likely to mount a legal challenge

that will prolong the political deadlock. (AFP Photo/Adek Berry)

Jokowi Makes Time’s Front Cover in ‘A New Hope’

Jakarta Globe, Oct 16, 2014

 (Photo courtesy of Time)

Jakarta. Man of the Year?

Not exactly. But President-elect Joko Widodo made Time’s cover in the Oct. 27 issue, which was posted on the magazine’s website on Thursday.

Titled “A New Hope” by journalist Hannah Beech, Time’s coverage highlights the importance of progress in Indonesia’s democratic movement in the world’s fourth most populous nation.

Joko’s inauguration as the nation’s seventh president takes place on Monday, and he succeeds President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose second five-year term will end.

All presidents of Indonesia have made the cover of Time.

Related Article:

Joko Bids Farewell to Jakarta Govt, Promises to Continue Working for City

SBY Signs Presidential Decree to Replace Regional Elections Law

Jakarta Globe, SP/Novianti Setuningsih, Oct 03, 2014

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,left, is accompanied by Vice President Boediono
as he signs a special presidential order late on Thursday in an attempt to cancel out the
much-criticized regional elections law, which was passed last week by the House
 of Representatives. (Rumgapres Photo/Abror Rizki)

Jakarta. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a special presidential order late on Thursday in an attempt to cancel out the much-criticized regional elections law, which was passed last week by the House of Representatives.

Deputy Justice and Human Rights Minister Denny Indrayana said the president signed the regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on Thursday.

“President Yudhoyono wants the regional elections to be better than the previous one and therefore the substance of this Perppu is the answer to all the criticism … that has been voiced by many people,” Denny said on Friday.

Denny said the Perppu canceled out the regional elections law, which removed direct elections for mayors, district heads and governors and placed their appointment in the hands of regional legislative councils.

The law was criticized as a major step back for Indonesian democracy, but it was unclear on Friday whether the Perppu would stand because the House could still veto the president’s last-minute intervention.

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Special Presidential Order (More Pictures)

Indonesia’s scrapping of direct elections raises fears for democracy

Indonesia’s scrapping of direct elections raises fears for democracy

Controversial legislation criticised as attempt by old political elites to consolidate their loosening grip on power

The Guardian, Kate Lamb in Jakarta, Friday 26 September 2014

President-elect Widodo. Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy, was held up
as an example in the region after the July poll. Photograph: Darren Whiteside/Reuters

Fears have been raised for Indonesia’s democracy after its parliament voted to abolish the direct election of local leaders, a key post-dicatatorship reform credited with assisting president-elect Joko Widodo’s rise to popularity as a mayor and governor before he won July’s national election.

The legislation – passed in the early hours of Friday after intensive lobbying – will mean provincial governors, district chiefs and mayors will now be elected by legislative bodies rather than directly by the people.

It could also lead to Widodo’s opponents in the incoming parliament – in which his coalition will hold just over a third of the seats – using its appointees to block his reforms at the local level.

Direct elections, part of the decentralisation measures implemented after the fall of dictator Suharto in 1998, have been credited with producing a handful of promising new leaders unconnected to the old elite, including Widodo, who beat a former general in the election in July.

After the tightest elections in the nation’s history ran peacefully, the world’s third-largest democracy was lauded for it political maturity and held up as an example in the region.

Raised in a riverside slum in Central Java, Widodo, known in Indonesia as Jokowi, is the first elected president with no direct ties to the old political and military establishment.

“The bill is a setback. A step back to a process of electing political leaders that is now in the hands of political parties,” said Djayadi Hanan, a political analyst from Paramadina University in Jakarta. “It is like a comeback for the political oligarchy.”

Doing away with direct elections, say analysts, will stymie the emergence of a new breed of accountable, responsible leaders and entrench the old elite.

Citing a recent poll by the Indonesian Survey Circle that showed more than 80% of Indonesians opposed the bill, Hanan argued that Indonesia’s political elites were trying to tighten their loosening grip on power and in doing so acted “against the will of the people”.

The bill has also been seen as attempt to even political scores, rushed through by an outgoing parliament and passed by a coalition of parties led by Prabowo Subianto, the former general who lost the July election to Jokowi.

“[The Prabowo coalition] want to humiliate Jokowi in the parliament, and this is the first battle,” said Eva K Sundari, a legislator from Jokowi’s Democratic party of Struggle

The ruling coalition in the incoming parliament will account for just over 36% of the seats and unless Jokowi manages to secure the support of another political party, he looks set to face a belligerent parliament after his inauguration on 20 October.

Analysts say that while he might hold power at the top, the opposition could further derail his programmes at a local level following the elimination of direct elections. More than 200 new local leaders, including 11 new provincial governors, are scheduled to be appointed next year and the new bill could help consolidate power in the hands of Jokowi’s opponents.

Aleksius Jemadu, the dean of political sciences at Pelita Harapan University in Jakarta, said the bill reflected an unsavoury new development in Indonesian democracy, one where the parliament “can do anything they want now because they control the majority and no one can stop them”.

In the lead-up to the boisterous 12 hours of debate and lobbying that preceded the vote, it appeared the bill was likely to be quashed. But the party that held the crucial swing vote, outgoing president Yudhoyono’s Democratic party, reversed its position at the 11th hour, walking out of the plenary session and abstaining from the subsequent vote.

That decision cost Jokowi’s coalition more than 100 votes and sealed an easy victory for the Prabowo-led coalition by 226 votes to 135.

Civil society groups and NGOs have vowed to challenge the new law at the constitutional court, but it is unclear whether they could win. Depending on the interpretation of the law, both direct and indirect elections are arguably constitutional.

As Prabowo’s Gerindra party hailed victory, critics on social networks described the bill as the death of democracy and directed their anger towards Yudhoyono under the Twitter hashtag #ShameOnYouSBY.

At a press conference on Thursday evening in Washington, where he was on an official visit, Yudhoyono expressed his regret at the vote. He said his party was preparing a lawsuit to challenge the bill and would seek recourse at the constitutional or supreme court.

Not all political observers are convinced he is sincere, given Yudhoyono could have thrown out the draft law to begin with.

“This reflects the real face of President Yudhoyono’s commitment to develop a genuine democracy,” argued political observer Aleksius Jemadu, “The president was in a position to stop all this in the first place, but he didn’t.”

Widodo has vowed to fight against the law and on Friday said the Indonesian public should remember which “political parties have robbed them of their political rights”.

The Democrats may file for review at the Constitutional Court, but experts

say others have better standing. (Antara Photo/Puspa Perwitasari)

Related Articles:

SBY to Cancel Regional Elections Law With Presidential Decree
Yudhoyono Will ‘Fight’ for Direct Regional Elections
SBY: ‘I Won’t Sign Elections Law’; Experts: ‘Too Late, Doesn’t Matter’
SBY Disappointed With Vote for Regional Elections, Says Democrats to File Lawsuit

Jokowi Urges Indonesians to Remember Who Scrapped Direct Voting

Yudhoyono and Jokowi Meet in Bali to Discuss Smooth Transition

Jakarta Globe, Heru Andriyanto, Aug 28, 2014

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met President-elect Joko Widodo in Bali
on Aug. 27, 2014 to discuss the transition. (AFP Photo/Sonny Tumbelaka)

Jakarta. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and President-elect Joko Widodo met for two hours in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday night to ensure that the transition process between the incumbent and new administration runs smoothly.

“We had a constructive discussion in the two-hour meeting regarding crucial matters related to the agenda of the state and the government,” Yudhoyono said in a press conference after the closed meeting with Joko.

Yudhoyono said he and Joko discussed government policies and programs and also matters related to the 2015 revised state budget and 2014 revised state budget.

Joko admitted that one of the topics they discussed in the meeting was the 2015 state budget, which Yudhoyono’s administration has proposed and which will be passed on to Joko’s administration.

“The discussion on [the state budget] was a bit detailed and the transition team will follow up the technicalities with the ministries,” Joko said.

The outgoing president said both camps agreed to hold further discussions on the technicalities related to the transition process.

“Pak Jokowi’s transition team officially works with the government and I approve of the communication and consultation [that had been developed between both camps],” Yudhoyono said, referring to Joko by his nickname.

Yudhoyono promised that the meeting would not be the last because Wednesday night’s was just the beginning of the two sides’ cooperation to ensure a smooth transition.

Joko said the smooth transition of power was a new tradition in Indonesia, which should be preserved.

“This is a new tradition that we want to continue,” Joko said during the joint press conference. “This is just the beginning that we hope to plan and implement as soon as possible. Let’s hope this can become a new tradition in Indonesia from incumbent government to the new one.”

Special presidential adviser for political communication Daniel Sparingga earlier said that the two leaders hoped to create a new culture of respect between outgoing and incoming presidents with Wednesday’s meeting. Daniel said that Yudhoyono wanted to build on this tradition when he became president in 2004. He said such a meeting and cooperation would be helpful for an incoming president.

However, Daniel said when Yudhoyono sent a representative to meet predecessor Megawati Sukarnoputri in 2004, she did not welcome the move.

First Ethnic Chinese Governor of Jakarta Takes Indonesia Forward

Jakarta Globe, Tobias Basuki, Aug 22, 2014

 (JG Graphics/Josep Tri Ronggo Laksono)

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as Ahok, will be the first ethnic Chinese to govern Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.

Ahok is not the first ethnic Chinese to gain political prominence in Indonesia, where the Muslim-Javanese group dominates political positions. But he may be the first to break unspoken barriers of expected behaviours and norms of an ethnic Chinese participating in politics.

The outspoken and sometimes brash deputy governor will take over Jakarta’s helm when the incumbent Joko Widodo, the country’s president-elect better known as Jokowi, takes office in October.

Ahok is a distinctive figure in Indonesian politics. This is not simply due to his “double minority” status as Chinese Indonesian and Christian but also a result of how he regards or disregards those labels.

In Indonesia, ethnic Chinese were subjected to discriminatory laws during Suharto’s dictatorship. When Suharto fell from power in 1998, they were the targets of anti-Chinese riots.

Ahok never shied away from his ethnicity. In his campaigns and when dealing with political situations, he often mentions his Chinese heritage. He has told self-deprecating jokes by referring to himself as a pork-eating infidel. When he ran for governor of Bangka Belitung, an archipelagic province off Sumatra, his campaign material had a picture of him in full Mandarin outfit.

But Ahok does not use his ethnicity to gain popular support. While some Chinese Indonesians form part of his support, his base of voters has never been built on ethnicity or identity politics.

This is different from most Chinese Indonesians who climbed the “political track.” Elected leaders of Chinese ethnicity would typically be in charge in areas with a large Chinese population such as Singkawang, West Kalimantan.

There are exceptions. The recently elected mayor of the Central Java city of Malang, Mochamad Anton, is Chinese Indonesian. But Anton is a Muslim. His ethnicity is diluted by his religious identity.

Anton holds the prestigious title of haji. He is also part of the local Nahdlatul Ulama chapter, Indonesia’s biggest Islamic mass organisation. His appointment has not created much buzz due to these factors.

Some Chinese Indonesians gain political prominence by being appointed as ministers or to other bureaucratic posts. In such cases, the president or regional leaders appoint them mostly for their skills, usually in the fields of economics, finance and trade.

This is where Ahok is different from other prominent Chinese Indonesians. Ahok is not a technocrat. He has held political positions in areas where Chinese Indonesians are minorities.

Ahok started his political career in a region where his ethnicity is not political capital to run for local government. He first served as a councilor in Belitung Timur, in the Bangka-Belitung Islands made famous by “Laskar Pelangi” (“Rainbow Warriors”) author Andrea Hirata. He became district head of Belitung Timur in 2005.

After two years as district head, Ahok ran for Bangka-Belitung governor and lost in a close race. He continued his political progress by becoming a parliamentary member representing the region.

He rose to his current position by adamantly pursuing his political ambitions. When not endorsed by his party (Golkar) to run as governor of Jakarta in 2012, he ran as an independent before the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party a recruited him. He then ran as deputy governor with Jokowi.

But does Ahok’s rise show a shift in Indonesia’s sociopolitical atmosphere in regard to identity politics? Do Indonesian people no longer care about their leaders’ ethnicity and religion?

Jakarta’s 2012 gubernatorial election and the nation’s July 2014 presidential election tell us a few things.

In both elections, Jokowi and Ahok (2012) and Jokowi (2014) had huge public support and enthusiasm behind them. And in both contests opponents used smear campaigns on religious and ethnic issues.

The smear campaign against Jokowi, who was accused of being a secret Christian of Chinese descent, almost worked. He lost his double-digit lead in opinion surveys just weeks before the election. Jokowi won, but with a close margin of 53 percent, against 46 percent for his rival.

Ethnicity and religion do have traction in elections, but they are not make-or-break factors. Religious identity in general is a more significant factor than ethnic identity.

Based on the results of a March 2014 CSIS national survey, it appears that Indonesia is not ready for people from minority groups to lead the nation. When asked if they objected to having an ethnic Chinese as president or vice-president, close to two-thirds of respondents said they did. The percentage rose to 71.7 percent when asked if they objected to having a non-Muslim president or vice-president.

But when we replace the conceptual question with real-case scenarios the results differ. The same survey presented several presidential pair scenarios. Interestingly, pairing Jokowi and Ahok as presidential and vice-presidential candidates did not diminish Jokowi’s electability.

It has often been overlooked that Chinese Indonesians are very heterogeneous socially and politically. Yet they are often treated and viewed as a monolithic group.

There is a variety of views in regard to the political participation of ethnic Chinese. Some are still cautious, traumatized by the 1998 riots. Others are quite enthusiastic about entering the political sphere.

The same varied views apply to Ahok. Some are proud and supportive of his accomplishments, while others are apprehensive. There are those who have reservations due to a fear that his brash demeanor may create a backlash against the Chinese, while a smaller minority are not supportive of him as he does not give special privileges.

Regardless of the changes in political dynamics nationally and among Chinese Indonesians, Ahok is pushing the nation forward. He is breaking barriers that had defined Indonesia’s socio-political environment. He has changed the game by having voters appraise politicians on their merits instead of ethnic and religious markers.

Yet Ahok is also an Indonesian politician who is unashamedly Chinese and Christian. He carries his background with pride, not for his identity but for Indonesia’s multicultural potential.

Tobias Basuki is a researcher at the Department of Politics and International Relations at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta.

The Conversation

Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.
(JG Photo/ Afriadi Hikmal)

Related Articles:

A First for Indonesia, Ethnic Chinese Leader Takes Charge in the Capital

"Recalibration of Free Choice"–  Mar 3, 2012 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: (Old) Souls, Midpoint on 21-12-2012, Shift of Human Consciousness, Black & White vs. Color, 1 - Spirituality (Religions) shifting, Loose a Pope “soon”, 2 - Humans will change react to drama, 3 - Civilizations/Population on Earth,  4 - Alternate energy sources (Geothermal, Tidal (Paddle wheels), Wind), 5 – Financials Institutes/concepts will change (Integrity – Ethical) , 6 - News/Media/TV to change, 7 – Big Pharmaceutical company will collapse “soon”, (Keep people sick), (Integrity – Ethical)  8 – Wars will be over on Earth, Global Unity, … etc.) - (Text version)

“…5 - Integrity That May Surprise…

The Unthinkable… Politics, A Review

Humans will begin to search for integrity and fairness and it's going to happen in the places you never expect. I said this last week, so this is a review. There'll come a time when you will demand this of your politics - fairness and integrity. So when the candidates start calling each other names, you will turn your back on them and they won't get any votes. They're going to get the point real fast, don't you think? How about that?

Let me give you another potential. This country that I sit in right now [USA] will set the mold for that particular attribute. I have no clock. Watch for the youngsters to set this in motion, and they will, for they are the voters of tomorrow and they do not want the energy of today. To some of them, it's so abominable they won't even register to vote in this energy. You're going to see this soon. That was number five.. ..."

After Extra Time, Jokowi’s Presidency Still Not Settled

Jakarta Globe, Camelia Pasandaran & Kennial Laia, Aug 22, 2014

Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo demonstrates his penalty-taking technique in
Pluit, North Jakarta on Aug. 17. (Antara Photo/Wahyu Putro)

Jakarta. If Joko Widodo’s supporters thought that Thursday’s Constitutional Court ruling had removed the final obstacle standing between their man and the State Palace — they had underestimated the ability of Indonesian law to throw in one last Kafkaesque twist.

Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi urged Joko on Friday to hand in his resignation as Jakarta Governor to the Jakarta Legislative Council (DPRD) at the earliest possible opportunity.

“He should step down, because he should not hold two state official posts. A governor is a state official, so is a president,” Gamawan said, as quoted by the state-run Antara news agency. “His resignation has to be approved by the Jakarta Legislative Council.”

But the DPRD does not have to accept Joko’s resignation, which could mean Joko is unable to take his seat in the State Palace in October.

There is a precedent.

When Fauzi Bowo served as Jakarta governor, his deputy, Prijanto, handed in a letter of resignation in March, 2012, but it was not ratified by the DPRD. Prijanto was forced to continue as deputy governor until Joko won the next election.

Gamawan said Joko required a minimum of 54 councilors voting in favor of his resignation.

“I’ve counted it, Joko’s coalition at the Jakarta DPRD consists of only 50 seats,” Gamawan said. “He needs at least 54 councilors to approve his resignation. I hope there will be no rejection.”

Joko’s coalition at the DPRD consists of, in fact, only 49 seats — this does not include the Democratic Party, which has 10 seats. The Merah Putih coalition led by Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party controls 47 seats.

Joko said on Friday that he would file his resignation after the new DPRD members were inaugurated on Monday.

“There’s still the inauguration of DPRD members, then the selection process of the DPRD speaker. Let’s wait until the entire process is done,” Joko said, as quoted by Antara on Friday.

Politician Poempida Hidayatulloh, a fired Golkar Party legislator and close aide of vice-president-elect Jusuf Kalla, said that Joko had no option but to reach out to other parties.

“Whether he likes it or not, he should make room to ask other parties to join him,” Poempida said. “There should be a political compromise to reach a deal.”

Refly Harun, a constitutional law expert, criticized Gamawan for his comments and said the potential legal quagmire had to be avoided.

“Even though the DPRD has the authority to reject the resignation, they is no rationality behind it,” he said. “[Joko] has been elected president, I do not think it is logical to use the procedure as a tool for political bargaining. Resignation is the right of a state official.”

“People might think that Joko’s victory could be annulled,” Refly said. “It’s improper for the minister to say that.”

Refly said a DPRD rejection of Joko’s resignation could lead to a power vacuum.

“It’s not only about the regulation and the law, but the ethics in government,” he said. “People should comply with the regulations, but not use the regulations to hamper the greater good.”

Related Article:

Indonesia court upholds Joko Widodo poll victory

Indonesia court upholds Joko Widodo poll victory

BBC News, 21 August 2014

Supporters of defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto gathered
outside the court ahead of the verdict

Indonesia's top court has rejected an appeal from defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto over the results of July's presidential poll.

The constitutional court's decision upholds the results from the elections, which Joko Widodo won by a 6% margin.

Mr Subianto had claimed widespread electoral fraud, and taken his case to the court.

Hundreds of Mr Subianto's supporters gathered outside the court ahead of the verdict, clashing briefly with police.

The court decision means that Mr Widodo, who was declared president last month, has his position firmly sealed, the BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Jakarta reports.

The constitutional court is the highest authority in the country - and the decision from the court is final, our correspondent adds.

Mr Widodo's win was seen as heralding a new era for Indonesia, whose leaders have generally been drawn from the military and political elite.

Mr Prabowo is a former army general closely associated with the traditional elite, while Mr Widodo, a former furniture-maker who grew up in a small village, has promised a decisive break with Indonesia's authoritarian past and better social welfare for the poor.