Indra Budiari, Jakarta – Gerindra Party patron Prabowo Subianto has taken a slight jab at Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama who is currently a defendant in a blasphemy trial, saying that peace in Jakarta can only be reached if justice is upheld.
In a statement on Wednesday, Prabowo said the Jakarta gubernatorial election had to be appreciated because the democratic process was conducted peacefully, without any serious problems.
"I am sure that only justice can bring peace to the city," Prabowo said during a press conference, which was also attended by gubernatorial candidate Anies Baswedan.
Ahok is currently facing up to five years' imprisonment if he is proven guilty for his alleged blasphemous remark, which he made during a work visit to Thousand Islands regency on Sept. 27 last year, consequently triggering two large-scale rallies organized by conservative Islamic organizations including the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), who demanded his prosecution.
Previously, Prabowo, who is backing Anies' candidacy, said he had made a mistake in supporting then gubernatorial candidate pair Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Ahok in the 2012 Jakarta election. "I believe Anies and his running mate Sandiaga Uno are the right leaders for Jakarta. That's why we are supporting them," he continued.
Meanwhile, Anies said despite early poll results, which suggested he would continue on to the election's second round, the fight was not yet over and he needed all of his supporters to work harder if they really had passed the first round. "We still have a long battle ahead and we are going to prepare for it," Anies said. (ebf)