TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Incumbent Jakarta governor candidate Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama deplored the commotion occurred when he conducted an impromptu visit to Sukabumi Utara, West Jakarta. As a result, Ahok canceled his plan to observe Sekretaris River.
"I think this [incident] hurts our democracy. As matter of fact, the residents were willing to accept [me]," Ahok said at the Kebon Jeruk Police Headquarter on Wednesday, November 2, 2016.
Ahok believed that people who rejected him was not residents of Sukabumi Utara, and said that what the protesters did was immature.
Earlier on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, Ahok visited Sukabumi Utara, West Jakarta, to meet with the residents. Ahok arrived at 4:15 PM Western Indonesia Time on the scene and greeted residents. When he wanted to observe Sekretaris River, Ahok was blocked by a group of individuals claiming that they were local residents.
Ahok did not react to the protest. However, the situation escalated when protesters tried to breach police guard. Ahok was then evacuated to the Kebon Jeruk Police Headquarter.
LARISSA HUDA