Secret Meeting with Jokowi planned Since February,says Alumni 212
26 April 2018 08:28 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The meeting that took place between President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and members of the Alumni 212 Brotherhood had been planned since the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Syihab claimed he would return to Indonesia in February.
This revelation was revealed by member of the Team 11 of the Alumni 212 Brotherhood Usamah Hisyam, which is a group notably known for their massive rally against Former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) that led to the former governor’s imprisonment.
“However at the time the president hadn’t had time to meet the Ulemas,” said Usamah in Jakarta yesterday.
According to Usamah, he was suggested to contact the Presidential Palace again to reschedule the meeting. But on April 11, he was contacted by the president’s representatives upon the rescheduling of the meeting.
Read also: Jokowi Says He Meet Alumni 212 to Maintain Good Relationship
Usamah further explained that he then met President Jokowi to discuss the contents of the meeting. “I then said that the meeting would talk about the criminalization attempt towards Ulemas. The President then asked for more time after he discusses it with his team,” said Usamah.
He was then contacted by the President’s palace on the same day, stating that Jokowi was willing to meet with the PA 212 on April 22 which would start by praying together continued with lunch at the Bogor Palace.
The meeting was conducted by PA 212 representatives. Misbahul Anam acted as the Chairman and said that the meeting was a closed meeting, secret, and should not be published.
“At the time our mobile phones were not allowed to be brought in,” said Anam.
During the meeting, according to Misbahul, the PA 212 and President Jokowi then discussed the alleged criminalization against Ulemas and the attempt to put a stop to it by enlightening the president with more accurate data on the case.
Misbahul denied that there were any discussions regarding politics during their meeting with President Jokowi.
TAUFIQ SIDDIQ
