Home Affairs Minister, Ombudsman Discuss Ahok Possible Suspension
16 February 2017 14:08 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo has met with Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia to discuss the suspension of regional heads named a suspect or becoming a defendant. The meeting was made following the House of Representatives’ demand for Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s suspension for being a defendant in a blasphemy case.
“I won’t change my decision that was made based on Regional Government Law and the [possible] sentencing recommendation. I believe that I have made a good decision,” Tjahjo said at Ombudsman office on Thursday, February 16, 2017. He insisted that he will await the sentence to be handed down to Ahok.
Tjahjo said that the Home Affairs Ministry must act fairly because he never suspended the governor of Gorontalo who is currently facing four years in prison. “Gorontalo governor-elect is a defendant. But since he is only facing four years in jail, I have not suspended him. He even got re-elected,” he said.
Tjahjo said he awaits the Supreme Court (MA) ruling on the suspension of regional heads named a suspect or becoming a defendant. Nevertheless, he added that the MA had earlier said the decision was the Ministry’s to make.
The Home Affairs Ministry’s director general of regional autonomy Soni Sumarsono said that the Ministry will accept any ruling issued by the MA. However, he said that it has yet to get receive any response from the MA. “There is no response yet. We have earlier sent a letter. We will discuss it internally,” he said.
On a separate occasion, Ahok had declined to comment on the issue. “I don’ know. You should ask the Home Affairs Minister,” Ahok said at the City Hall on Monday.
MAYA AYU PUSPITASARI |AVIT HIDAYAT
