Book on Ahok launched Wednesday

JAKARTA. A book titled "Ahok di mata Mereka" (Ahok in their Eyes) was launched on Wednesday by its 51 authors at Pullman Hotel in Central Jakarta as a birthday present for former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

Ahok celebrated his 51st birthday on June 29 while serving a prison sentence at the Mobile Brigade Command (Mako Brimob) in Depok, West Jakarta, after being declared guilty of blasphemy.

“[The inspiration to write] this book was when Vero [Ahok’s wife, Veronica Tan] read out a letter by Ahok announcing his decision to withdraw his appeal,” said the book’s initiator, Neneng Herbawati, as quoted by kompas.com.

The North Jakarta District Court sentenced Ahok to two years in prison on May 9, in a trial considered by many as being orchestrated as a result of pressure from intolerant groups. Veronica, in tears, read out Ahok’s letter on May 23.

Not wanting the public to forget Ahok, Neneng said she contacted Ahok’s aide Sakti Budiono, who then communicated with 51 Ahok supporters of various backgrounds about writing the 456-page book.

One of the authors, University of Indonesia political analyst Hamdi Muluk, said his students had criticized his involvement in writing the book as they feared the book would glorify Ahok.

However, Hamdi argued it that the authors wanted to stand up for Ahok’s values.

"We are here not only fighting for Ahok. We are fighting for [his] values. I hope that is what we fight for today,” Hamdi said at the book launch.