WHEN the citizens of Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, voted for Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as their vice-governor in 2012, it seemed a hopeful moment. He and his popular boss, Joko Widodo, had promised a bold programme of urban renewal to save the creaky, sinking and car-clogged metropolis. What’s more, the world’s largest Muslim-majority democracy seemed to enhance its reputation for tolerance. Mr Basuki,known as Ahok, is ethnic Chinese and a Christian: rarely before had an Indonesian from a minority community and religion risen so high.
Suddenly, Indonesia’s reputation for tolerance is in question. After Mr Joko, or Jokowi, ran for president and won by a landslide two years ago, Ahok assumed the Jakarta governorship. Just three months ago, Ahok still looked to be a shoo-in for the gubernatorial race next February. Since then, however, huge rallies organised by hardline Islamist groups have brought hundreds of thousands of anti-Ahok protesters to central Jakarta. Because of those protests, he himself is in court on blasphemy charges.
Ahok is arrogant, impatient and coarse—offending courteous Javanese manners. But he is effective: Jakartans...Continue reading
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