TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ten writers paid a visit to former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok at Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) detention center yesterday on October 24.
The visit was initiated by an article piece written by the former journalist turned lecturer Ignatius Haryanto titled ‘Sebuah Selasa Siang Bersama BTP' (A Tuesday Afternoon with BTP). Ignatius who now teaches at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara was also a co-writer of a book titled ‘Kami Ahok’.
“Yes that (‘Sebuah Selasa Siang Bersama BTP’) is my work,” confirmed Ignatius on Wednesday, October 25.
He did not specify the identities of the writers visiting Ahok, he only explained that the writers come from different professions such as doctors, journalists, oceanographer, lecturer, historian, religious expert and a novelist.
Read: Ahok Nearly Finishes Reading Islamic Holy Quran in Jail
The article described how Ahok dominated the whole conversation and did not visually appear to be stressed even though he has been detained for over five months in prison. “This is my 168th day here and I finished reading 18 books,” said Ahok as quoted in the article, “I use my time effectively here to read,” he added.
According to Ignatius, Ahok mostly talked about his activities in prison and described himself with the likes of Batman in the movie Batman Returns where he works out meticulously, “I do hundreds of sit-ups every day,” he revealed to his guests.
“I’m wearing a formal shirt now, though I usually wear a simple t-shirt. I just wanted to make sure if I could still fit in this, since that I’m now much more buff,” joked Ahok.
Other than regular books, Ahok also spent his time to read the Islamic Holy Quran, which he said was a gift from a woman. “I’m nearly finished the Al Quran now… I spent my primary and middle years at Islamic schools, so I can still scarcely remember,” he revealed.
Ahok added that during his incarceration, he studied the Javanese culture of being patient, surrendering oneself, and being mindful of what you say. Ignatius closed the article by writing that ‘integrity can be thrown away, but it cannot be stolen.”
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