Uncertain outlook for Ahok - and his Jakarta legacy - with blasphemy charge

Jakarta

When about 100,000 people took to the streets of Jakarta earlier this month to protest what some religious conservatives say were comments by the city's governor intended to insult Islam, Makmur Djarat smelled trouble.

Mr Djarat, elected as a sort of neighbourhood chief three years ago, mobilised a few young men to keep vigil to ensure protestors didn't invade his tight-knit community of Kota Kebon, just a stone's throw from City Hall and virtually ground zero to massive rallies. This warren of cheek- by-jowl, tidy shops and modest houses had, after all, been Mr Djarat's home since he was born here 55 years ago. But while he leapt to his defence of neighbours and their livelihoods, he was less emphatic about the city's reformist governor Basuki Purnama.