Jakarta – A protester who joined a recent protest in front of Cipinang detention center, East Jakarta, to criticize the jailing of non-active Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for blasphemy, has been reported to the Jakarta Police for alleged libel.
Jakarta resident Kan Hiung reported Veronica Koman Liau, former lawyer at Jakarta Legal Aid, to the police on Saturday for allegedly defaming President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in her speech during the rally.
"She [Veronica] shouted that there was no blasphemy [in Ahok's case] but a blasphemous trial and blasphemous judges," he said as quoted by kompas.com on Saturday.
Previously, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, who saw the video footage of Veronika's speech, called on Veronika to clarify her remarks, during which she said Jokowi's government was worse than the administration of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Tjahjo also urged Veronika to apologize for her statement, which he said had defamed the government.
On May 9 the North Jakarta District Court sentenced Ahok to two years in prison for committing blasphemy. (cal/ebf)