Analysts say this sparked a backlash from Muslim hardliners who gathered within the streets of Jakarta, demanding his punishment, fueling religious intolerance and inspiring its use as a political campaign tool.
Purnama was divorced in prison after a court in Jakarta found there was sufficient evidence of his ex-wife’s infidelity. He was released from prison in January and, in keeping with reports, he married 20-year-old Puput Nastiti Devi, who was previously his ex-wife’s bodyguard. On Monday, Puput accompanied Purnama to the awards ceremony.
Former Jakarta Governor Ahok: got out of prison… and fell into the arms of his ex-wife’s bodyguard
Former Jakarta Governor Ahok: got out of prison… and fell into the arms of his ex-wife’s bodyguard
The 53-year-old is the ninth recipient of the award founded by the family of the late Fifties engineer and former cabinet minister Roosseno Soerjohadikoesoemo, known in Indonesia as the daddy of reinforced concrete.
Previous recipients include former president BJ Habibie for her achievements in science and technology, and gender equality activist Saparinah Sadli, who was the primary chairwoman of the National Commission on Violence Against Women.
Writer and founding father of Indonesian news magazine Tempo, Goenawan Mohamad – who’s a member of the awards advisory committee – said This week in Asia that Purnama was recognized for his “integrity, work ethic, innovation, in addition to empathy for the disenfranchised,” echoing a speech given by Roosseno’s daughter, poet Toeti Heraty.
“For me, the most important thing about this award is that it was the first recognition of his work after he went to prison,” Goenawan said.
Andreas Harsono, a researcher at Human Rights Watch in Indonesia, said Purnama was often known as a no-nonsense governor with a “clean track record, transparency and sensitivity to the general public interest.” But during his term, he bulldozed riverside slums in an try to relocate poor residents to reasonably priced housing. This policy has faced criticism for dehumanizing tenants and failing to grasp that it removes them from familiar surroundings.
After being released from prison, Purnama works for a consulting firm that helps local governments cope with bureaucracy and in addition appears in videos uploaded to YouTube.
In Sunday’s video, he said he planned to “do an off-air show” and that proceeds from ticket sales would go to a foundation he founded in prison, whose name is equivalent to his initials: BTP, Beri Tanpa Pamrih, or Giving No Strings Attached.
Why is domestic violence increasing in Indonesia?
Why is domestic violence increasing in Indonesia?
Asked by reporters at Monday’s ceremony whether he can be given the ministerial post by his close ally Widodo – who’s currently within the strategy of forming a brand new cabinet after being re-elected as Indonesia’s president in April – Purnama said: “I won’t ever grow to be a minister. I’m already destroyed on this republic. I’m not a pessimist, I’m just presenting the facts.”
In a later Instagram post, he expressed his thanks and said it “was an honor” to receive the award. “The lesson I learned from prison was that we should think of difficult times as a blessing in disguise,” he said. “Even if I have been slandered, slandered, humiliated and treated unfairly, if it is in the national interest, I will not submit to all this. Only when every citizen is ready to kill his or her ego and identity interests will Indonesia achieve prosperity.”
This article appeared within the print edition of the South China Morning Post as: Imprisoned former Jakarta governor wins rights award but rules out return
