Indonesian Police Probe Distribution Of 'Jokowi Undercover' Book

By Azeman Ariffin JAKARTA, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- The police are investigating the sale and distribution of a book that allegedly incited hatred towards President Joko Widodo, after having arrested the author Bambang Tri Mulyono. Police head of public relations Boy Rafli Amar said it was learnt that the book, 'Jokowi Undercover', was being sold on social media by the author himself but police were also looking into its distribution. The police had banned the book after it was found that it allegedly slandered and insulted the Indonesian President and incited hatred. "An investigation of the author revealed that the contents of the book were merely the thoughts of the writer not supported by any primary and secondary data," he said. The writer claimed that the President, better known as Jokowi, had falsified personal particulars when he contested the presidency in 2014. Bambang was arrested to assist in the investigation into alleged violation of several laws, including one on elimination of racial and ethnic discrimination. That particular law provides for anyone found guilty of having shown hatred towards race and ethnicity to be sentenced to a maximum of five years jail and a fine of Rp500 million (about US$37,169) Bambang is also likely to be charged under the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions for having disseminated information to engender hatred or hostility against individuals or specific groups based on ethnicity, religion and race. Local media quoted Jokowi's mother, Sudjiatmi Notomihardjo, as having expressed regret over the accusation and slander in the book. The contents of the book were raised by social activist Michael Bimo who lodged a police report saying that he had been mentioned in the book as a sibling of Jokowi. According to Lina Novita, counsel for Bimo, Bambang had slandered Bimo by stating that he and Jokowi had the same mother and that they allegedly had links with the outlawed Community Party of Indonesia. -- BERNAMA