As Jakartans are still reeling from the most divisive gubernatorial election the city has ever seen, which exacerbated sectarianism and fanned anti-Chinese sentiments, some citizens have called on the government to protect the capital from any threat from radicals.
On Wednesday the State Palace, as well as the headquarters of the National Police, the Jakarta Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI), were adorned with dozens of flower boards bearing messages calling on the government to curb radicalism.
“We are ready to support the military and the police to eradicate radicalism and maintain the unity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia [NKRI],” read one flower board that had been put on the front yard of the Jakarta Police headquarters in Senayan, South Jakarta.
“Save the NKRI, curb radicalism,” read another flower board.
The two flower boards were among more than 20 flower arrangements set up at the police’s headquarters.
“To be honest, we have no idea who put all these flowers here,” said Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono on Wednesday.
He appreciated the act and deemed it to be part of the nation’s democracy.
“Certainly, this is a form of citizens showing their aspirations. They address their appreciation and motivations toward the police. They will encourage us to continue safeguarding Jakarta,” Argo said.
Flower boards were also sent to the State Palace as a token of gratitude to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo for his role in maintaining Pancasila as the state ideology.
The senders, however, also pointed out that the police and the military were still an important part of guarding Jakarta from the threat of disunity and radicalism.
The gesture came a few weeks after the Jakarta runoff election, described by experts as the country’s most polarizing election with racial and religious issues overshadowing the city’s most critical problems, including education and infrastructure.
Riding a growing wave of religious conservatism, former culture and education minister Anies Baswedan won the election, beating incumbent Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who was dogged by allegations he had committed blasphemy while seeking election.
Some political experts said Anies owed his success in the runoff election to Muslim voters who decided to throw their support behind him, mobilized by Muslim groups, including the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI).
Following Ahok’s loss in the election, thousands of people showed their support for the governor by turning City Hall into a jungle of colorful flower boards last week.
Admirers sent flower boards to express their sympathy, sadness, or support for Ahok and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat, who conceded defeat in the April 19 election ahead of the official announcement of the results.
A political analyst from Indo Barometer, M. Qodari, said that the flowers sent to the military and the police headquarters were a clear sign that there were some Jakarta residents who were worried about the impact of the election.
Qodari described the flowers as a “cry for help” from Jakarta residents, besides being a token of gratitude to law enforcement officers.
“Some people are worried that recently conservative groups have gotten a bigger stage and have taken control of the public sphere,” he told The Jakarta Post. “Therefore, they ask for help from the police and the military.”
Messages on other flower arrangements called for the police to arrest FPI leader Rizieq Shihab and to disband his organisation.
Responding to the messages, Argo said, “There is nothing wrong with sending messages through flowers. Deciding whether to say something has broken the law is up to the police.”