To be honest, I’ve never cared about Indonesian government issues or politics. Until one man that changed my perception. His name is Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or known as Ahok.
Actually, I still don’t care even if he wins or loses the election for governor of Jakarta. What I care most is how strong this man is, tried to single-handedly taking care of corruption and bad politics in Jakarta. But what can he do? He is just a man, a man of justice, a man who always give his all to public, a man who is ready to ‘die’ for what he believe is right to do.
In truth, yes he made mistakes of saying things he wasn’t supposed to say. I don’t think he did try to mock the holy Quran, what he tried to say was ‘some people’ are using the scripture to fool public. He did not say that the scripture tells lies. However, the judges and court thought differently and he’s been sentenced to jail for 2 years.
WHAT HAD HE DONE? That caused him to get sentenced for 2 years? Just for saying things as parable? Even corruptors got jailed for 2 or 3 years, but this man, just because he said things in parable and the very religious people accused him of blasphemy. I thought Indonesia is a democracy country, country with freedom of speech, but government could not do anything with the intense pressure of the ‘so-called’ religious people.
Things had getting heated recently and racism towards minority race are also intensifying. With him being convicted, I hope it will reduce the heated conditions in Jakarta, especially after the election. Maybe that’s his plan after all, just to satisfy the needs of those ‘so-called’ religious people. Maybe these ‘holy’ people will laugh, mock and jeer at him and his followers, but I believe karma exists and God exists.
No one, not single one person has more bravery than him. He is the strongest person I’ve ever known. I don’t think I will have the courage to defend myself and fight with those corrupted group.
I am praying for him so that he will enjoy every moment he has, no matter where he is. And no matter where he goes, he will inspire others, he will inspire people like me and people like you.
On another note, looks like history repeated itself, same thing happened around 2000 years ago, or maybe more recently, around 30 years ago.
Now I care about Ahok. I admire him, on how strong and how brave he is. One day, I will surely tell this story to my kids, even my grand kids, that there is one man, yes one man, who changed my heart, changed people’s heart, who is willing to sacrifice himself, so that others can be saved.
We will never leave you, nor forsake you. Keep doing what you are doing, you are doing well, sir! Sad but time to move on!