JK Claims UGM Lecture Controversy Arose After Mentioning Jokowi's Diploma

Tenth and twelfth Vice President of Indonesia Jusuf Kalla (JK) claims that the controversy over his lecture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) arose after he reported Rismon Hasiholan and touched on the issue of the seventh President’s diploma, Joko Widodo. JK’s lecture on the Poso and Ambon conflicts has recently been criticised by several parties. That lecture was delivered by JK on 5 March. JK reported Rismon regarding the dissemination of hoaxes and false news related to Jokowi’s diploma. At that time, he also urged Jokowi to show his original diploma. “I am not accusing politics, but this is the reality that it arose after I filed a complaint against Rismon and secondly, I said that for two years the people have been in conflict, opposing each other, accusing each other, shouting and demonstrating. Enough, Mr Jokowi, enough. Just show the diploma. That’s all,” JK said at his residence in South Jakarta on Saturday (18/4). JK is convinced that Jokowi’s diploma is genuine. He said that Jokowi should display the diploma so that society is not divided over the issue. As a senior, JK claims he conveyed it as advice. “I am older than him, so as a more senior person, I advise, understand? Many say, especially Mr JK, what is Mr Jokowi lacking to Mr JK to be like this? Did I accuse? No. Did I accuse? No. Did I oppose Mr Jokowi? No,” he said. Previously, the Executive Board of the Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) along with several organisations reported JK to the police. GAMKI General Chairman Sahat Sinurat stated that JK’s remarks were deemed to touch on Christian teachings and cause unrest in the lecture at UGM Mosque discussing the Poso and Ambon conflicts. He emphasised that Christian teachings never justify killing as a path to heaven. In addition, on 14 April, a similar report emerged from North Sumatra. Several organisations under the North Sumatra Civil Society Alliance also reported JK to the North Sumatra Police with accusations of blaspheming religious teachings.