TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A group of advocates incorporated in the Advokat Cinta Tanah Air (ACTA) organization filed a lawsuit against the government through the state administrative court (PTUN), for reinstating Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama as Governor of Jakarta. On Monday, February 13, 2017, Ahok officially resumed his position as Jakarta Governor after returning from a campaign leave since October 2017.

"This lawsuit is our support for the government to always conduct their duties based on the legislation and legal corridor," said the Deputy Secretary General of ACTA Yustian Dewi Widiastuti, in her official statement.

The main petition contained in the lawsuit urging the Indonesian Government to issue a temporary Dismissal Decree for Ahok as the Governor of Jakarta.

According to Yustian, there are two reasons that urged ACTA to file the lawsuit. The first reason was because Ahok is currently a suspect of an alleged religious blasphemy in violation of Article 156 (a) of the Criminal Code.

Yustian referred to a temporary dismissal decree that was issued for Ogan Ilir Regent, Ahmad Wazir Noviadi, who is also involved in an indictment and has been charged with multiple years of imprisonment.

Ahmad Wazir was charged with Article 112 and Article 127 of Law No 35 of 2009. "In this case the Minister of Home Affairs temporarily dismissed [Ahmad Wazir], even when he was [only named] a suspect," Yustian said.

Yustian explained that a regional head that has been named as a suspect in a crime subject to a five years of imprisonment or more is eligible for temporary dismissal.

LARISSA HUDA