"I will not intervene in a legal process because once he does people will always come to me wherever there is a case," Jokowi said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo said here on Sunday he would not intervene in Ahoks case because if he does people will later always come to him to also do it whenever a case emerges.
"I will not intervene in a legal process because once he does people will always come to me wherever there is a case," he said when opening the meeting of clerics and the first national conference of the Islam-based United Development Party (PPP).
He said he would stick to the principle and would not really wish to intervene a bit to an on-going legal process.
He said legal process of any case would take time and so he urged people to be patient.
"I would stick to the principle. The legal process is still on-going and so please be patient," he said.
Regarding the huge demonstration that happened on November 4 with regard to the alleged blasphemy case of Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok as he is also called the President said he knew that it was done out of a good intention.
He however reminded that process has been and now still underway and thus already under legal jurisdiction, even before the demonstration happened.
"Before the demonstration took place it was already being processed. Witnesses have been questioned," he said.
President Joko Widodo on the occasion reminded the people again about the importance of Pancasila state ideology as a uniting power of the nation.
He said the Indonesian constitution guaranteed freedom of expression as well as pluralism and diversity.
"As a president and head of state I wish we will really preserve the unity and solidarity while assuring that the Pancasila values and principles remain intact," he said. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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