The wRap Indonesia: Oct. 7, 2014

JAKARTA, Indonesia – President-elect Joko Widodo’s formal resignation as Jakarta governor and the gruesome murder case in Australia involving an Indonesian transexual sex worker top our stories from Indonesia the past day.   

1. Jokowi clears last administrative requirement ahead of inauguration

The Jakarta legislative council (DPRD) on Monday, October 6, unanimously accepted President-elect Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s resignation as Jakarta governor. The decision ran contrary to speculations the DPRD, which is majority controlled by parties allied with losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, would block the final administrative requirement before Jokowi’s inauguration as Indonesia’s 7th president on October 20. They did, however, comment on Jokowi’s commitment to the capital and suggested there be stricter rules on the term of office of governors and deputy governors to prevent the same from happening again, Antara reported. Jokowi’s former deputy, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, is now acting governor and will be formally inaugurated as governor soon.

2. Victim in gruesome Australia murder was ‘high-class Indonesian transexual sex worker’ 

The victim in the gruesome murder-suicide case in Australia, where body parts were reportedly found cooking on a stove in a Brisbane apartment, is believed to have been Indonesian transgender Mayang Prasetyo. According to the report, Mayang was marketing herself online as a “top high-class Asian shemale”, charging up to $500 an hour for her services, in order to support her family in Lampung province back in Indonesia. On Saturday, police responded to a complaint about a terrible smell emanating from the apartment. Australian chef Marcus Peter Volke, who Mayang was married to, is then understood to have fled when police arrived before slitting his throat, the Courier Mail reported. His body was later found in a nearby street. Read the full Rappler story.  

3. No protests allowed during Bali Democracy Forum

Bali Police said Monday they won’t allow any form of demonstrations or protests during the 7th Bali Democracy Forum on Friday and Saturday, October 10-11. This is the last time the forum will be held under outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who initiated it in 2008. Ironically, it will be held amid criticisms that he has failed to defend democracy in Indonesia with the passage of a law removing direct elections for local officials. As many as 4,600 military and police personnel will be deployed to safeguard the international event, which will be attended by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, and the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, according to the Jakarta Post.

4. Famous Indonesian poet named rape suspect

Jakarta Police on Monday named famous poet Sitok Srengenge a rape suspect, almost a year after a University of Indonesia student filed sexual assault charges against him. The student claimed Sitok invited her to his rented room to discuss a university event in March 2013, gave her alcoholic drinks, and raped her. Two other women have since come forward, with one saying Sitok coerced her with poems and the other saying she managed to escape. Read the full report on the Jakarta Globe. 

5. Will Ahok finally succeed in disbanding FPI?

Many have said they would, but nobody has succeeded in disbanding the notorious militant group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). But this time, it’s Jakarta’s tough talking acting governor, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who’s issuing the warning. After FPI’s violent protest against him on Friday, Ahok said all organizations that create anarchy and attempt to change the Pancasila and the constitution must be disbanded. “We’re looking a way how to disband them,” Ahok said, according to Tempo.co. FPI’s response? “Please, by all means, if he can,” FPI chair Muchsin Alatas said. – Rappler.com