Photo: Lawan Ahok Facebook page
While many Indonesians attempt to avoid direct confrontations at all cost, Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama is all about them.
A political organization called Lawan Ahok (Enemies of Ahok), which declared its opposition to the governor and his agenda last week, is holding a rally near Taman Suropati in Menteng this morning. The protest, featuring lion dancers, ondel-ondel puppets and Betawi martial arts demonstrations, is somehow meant to convey their opposition to Ahok’s relocation of slum dwellers as happened to the people of Kampung Pulo.
In response, Ahok, suggesting that Lawan Ahok Ahok would be better off if they just demonstrated directly in front of Jakarta City Hall.
“It’s my home office, is it not? If you want you can come here (to City Hall) so that you will be better heard,” Ahok told reporters this morning, as quoted by Tribunnews.
Ahok said he would not take away anybody’s right to demonstrate, no matter their cause. “Everybody has the right to demonstrate in a democracy.”
