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Jakarta election: Christian governor concedes to Muslim rival | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Jakarta's first Christian governor has conceded defeat to a Muslim former government minister in a vote seen as a test of Indonesia's secular identity. | |
Basuki Tjahaja Purnama congratulated his rival after exit polls showed Anies Rasyid Baswedan clearly ahead. | |
Critics of Mr Purnama had accused him of blasphemy, heightening racial and religious tensions. Mr Baswedan was accused of courting hardliners. | |
The new mayor takes office in October. Official results come in May. | |
"We now will come together and forget this campaign. Jakarta is home for all of us," Mr Purnama, popularly known as Ahok, said in a nationally televised news conference. | |
"We understand that our supporters are disappointed. But don't dwell on it." | |
Hardline Islamist groups say Mr Purnama, a Christian of Chinese descent, insulted a Koranic verse during a campaign speech and have rallied large crowds against him in recent months. He is now on trial for blasphemy, which he denies. | |
Correspondents say this has made the election a choice between secularism and a growing hardline Islamist movement. | |
Mr Baswedan hinted he would try to heal divisions, saying: "We celebrate diversity... We are all ready to work together again." | |
How did polling day unfold? | |
The run-off election between the two men came after no candidate secured more than half the votes in the first round. | |
Shortly after polls closed, unofficial counts by private polling companies showed Mr Baswedan had secured a strong lead, with a margin in the double digits. | |
Full official results will be announced early next month. | |
BBC Indonesian editor Rebecca Henschke says although extra security officers were deployed to polling stations, the vote was mostly held amid a festive atmosphere. | |
Police said the election proceeded "smoothly and safely with no significant disruption". Reuters reported that 15 people had been detained after disturbances at polling stations. | |
A coalition of hardline Islamic groups supporting Mr Basedan had previously said it would send at least 100 activists to each polling station to monitor voting. But correspondents said they had a very limited presence. | |
Mr Purnama voted with his family in north Jakarta early on Wednesday morning and urged voters not to be afraid. | |
Police had warned against voter intimidation. | Police had warned against voter intimidation. |
Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islamic Defenders Front which has been leading protests against Mr Purnama, also cast his vote. | Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islamic Defenders Front which has been leading protests against Mr Purnama, also cast his vote. |
Asked by the BBC if his group was damaging Indonesia's pluralist democracy, he said: "Democracy doesn't stop someone from voting for a person from the same religion as you.... Christian vote for Christian, Muslims vote for Muslim." | Asked by the BBC if his group was damaging Indonesia's pluralist democracy, he said: "Democracy doesn't stop someone from voting for a person from the same religion as you.... Christian vote for Christian, Muslims vote for Muslim." |
The election has also seen anti-Chinese sentiment, sparking unease in a country that has seen violence against its Chinese minority in the past. | |
A number of Chinese Indonesians who turned up to vote told the BBC that they had not been intimidated. | |
"Politics is cruel. There will be threats, physically or verbally. But I still feel comfortable even though I'm of Chinese descent... So far they only scream out hatred but haven't really acted on it," one voter, Rudi Irmawan, told the BBC. | |
What is the controversy about? | What is the controversy about? |
Mr Purnama stepped into the role of city governor from the deputy post without election in 2014, when his predecessor, Joko Widodo, became president. | |
Mr Purnama was accused last year of insulting a Koranic verse during a campaign speech, which he has denied, saying his comments were aimed at politicians "incorrectly" using the Koran against him. | Mr Purnama was accused last year of insulting a Koranic verse during a campaign speech, which he has denied, saying his comments were aimed at politicians "incorrectly" using the Koran against him. |
Hardline Islamists have cited that verse from the Koran to support an argument that Muslims should not vote for a non-Muslim leader. | Hardline Islamists have cited that verse from the Koran to support an argument that Muslims should not vote for a non-Muslim leader. |
Correspondents say his rivals have also heavily capitalised on these allegations to harness the Muslim vote, with Mr Baswedan meeting the Islamic Defenders Front twice publically. | Correspondents say his rivals have also heavily capitalised on these allegations to harness the Muslim vote, with Mr Baswedan meeting the Islamic Defenders Front twice publically. |
If convicted, Mr Purnama faces a maximum five-year jail sentence, although he could still govern while appeals are heard. His trial is due to resume on Thursday. | |
How has it affected the outcome? | How has it affected the outcome? |
Observers say the controversy clearly hurt Mr Purnama's chances. Once considered the clear frontrunner, he won the first round of the election in February with only 43% of the vote, while Mr Baswedan had 40%. | |
The Jakarta Post has described the campaign as "the dirtiest, most polarising and most divisive the nation has ever seen". | The Jakarta Post has described the campaign as "the dirtiest, most polarising and most divisive the nation has ever seen". |
Indonesia is the world's most-populous Muslim country. About 85% of its population are Muslim, but the country officially respects six religions. | Indonesia is the world's most-populous Muslim country. About 85% of its population are Muslim, but the country officially respects six religions. |