Religious split consumes election in Indonesia
Governor faces blasphemy charges
This week’s hotly contested election for governor of this capital region exposes the fault lines of tolerance in the world’s largest Muslim-majority country.
The incumbent is a Christian of Chinese ethnicity — Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known by his nickname, Ahok — the first non-Muslim governor of Jakarta in 50 years. He took over the post in 2014, when then-governor Joko Widodo was elected president.
Most agree Ahok has done a good job of reducing corruption and pollution while improving infrastructure in this crowded city of more than 10 million.
But he’s on trial for alleged blasphemy amid a growing backlash by hard-line Muslims. He could be forced into a runoff against one of his Muslim opponents.
Ahok’s approval rating hit 75% in some recent polls, until a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment spread on social media hobbled his campaign. Thirty-nine percent of Jakartans say they plan to vote for him Wednesday, according to a survey by pollster Charta Politika.
The furor started in September, when Ahok commented on the campaign trail that his opponents incorrectly used a Quran verse to claim Muslims shouldn’t vote for him. A video clip of the comment went viral, sparking massive protests in Jakarta in November and December. Ahok was charged with blasphemy in December and is standing trial in weekly hearings. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison.
Ahok’s campaign says the video was edited to galvanize the opposition by making it appear that Ahok criticized the Quran.
“I am Muslim, and I studied the Quran,” says Ahok’s vice campaign manager, Bambang Wclaluyo Wahab. “There is nothing wrong with what Ahok said. But they edited the video, and the pressure groups became bigger and bigger. Now they don’t accept a non-Muslim to be governor.”
As the world contends with the spread of “fake news” and its role in elections, many stories here claim to expose Chinese plots to undermine Indonesia, playing on anti-Chinese sentiment.
The question is whether Ahok will get enough support to win a majority. If no one gets more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held in April between the top two candidates. Ahok’s opponents are Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, the son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and former education minister Anies Baswedan, who is polling second to Ahok. Both are Muslims.