TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democratic Party chairman Susilo "SBY" Bambang Yudhoyono argued that the wiretapping of his conversation with Indonesian Ulema Council chairman Ma'ruf Amin was a crime. Susilo called on the government to conduct an investigation into the illegal wiretapping.
"In my opinion, the wiretapping was a crime, since it's illegal," SBY told journalists in Jakarta on Wednesday, February 1, 2017.
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Susilo confirmed that he had a telephone conversation with Ma'ruf on October 7, 2016, to notify Ma'ruf about Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono's visit to the Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board's (PBNU) office. Susilo explained that Agus' visit was to ask for a blessing from the PBNU to participate in the 2017 Jakarta Gubernatorial Election.
However, Susilo dismissed an allegation that he asked Ma'ruf to issue a fatwa related to religious blasphemy.
The conversation between Susilo and Ma'ruf was revealed during a trial of religious blasphemy case entangling inactive Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. Ahok's lawyer grilled Ma'ruf with questions related to the telephone conversation. Ahok alleged that the fatwa was issued by the MUI under Susilo's pressure.
"I'm asking for justice, because my privacy, guaranteed by the law, is being violated," SBY added.
According to SBY, police and other law enforcers will play an important role to investigate the wiretapping. SBY called on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to step in if the wiretapping was conducted by a state institution.
VINDRY FLORENTIN
