The National Situation is Stable

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 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.
 
A big mass action took place in front of the Palace in Jakarta on November 4, 2016 well known as 411 mass action, followed by perfectly controlled millions mass action on all around the Nationa Monument on February 21, 2017 well known as 212 mass action  and followed by perfectly control mass action on February 21, 2017 well known as 212 mass action in front of the House of the Representatives.
 
Those mass action demonstrating the Moslem anger to Ahok and demanding him to be dismissed from his position as the Governor of Jakarta and detained. This group was also protesting the Government soft policy on Ahok and opposing the Government policy to re-activate Ahok as the active Governor after the period of on leave for the campaign period to have been over.

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.

Definitely this possible crucial situation should not be necessary provoking riot and confusion because Indonesia has complete legal system to solve any legal dispute.
President also has the highest authority to make the necessary decision to save the country. President is not in any danger but the national stability should be maintained perfectly to save the people life run normally.

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.

*) Written by Political and Security Observer. Former State Intelligence Coordination Agency (BAKIN's) chief.