FPI members attack journalist amid protest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Islamic Defender Front (FPI)
\nattacked on Friday a journalist covering a protest by the group
\nin front the National Police Headquarters on Jl. Trunojoyo in
\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Eddy Saputra Hasibuan, a journalist with Pos Kota morning
\ndaily, was attacked by FPI members for allegedly defaming the
\ngroup's operational division deputy chairman, M. Alwi Usman.<\/p>\n
Minutes before the attack, Eddy stood up in the middle of some
\n300 members of the group, who were demanding the police prosecute
\nnoted businessman Sofyan Wanandi for his alleged involvement in
\nplaying Islamic figures off against each other.<\/p>\n
In the middle of the noisy protest, a man in long cream shirt
\nwith a cell phone pointed at Eddy.<\/p>\n
\"He is the one who accused FPI members of carrying money!\" the
\nman, who was later identified as Zainuddin, an FPI lawyer,
\nyelled.<\/p>\n
Members of the group then beat Eddy several times.<\/p>\n
Police personnel, including South Jakarta Police Precinct
\nchief Sr. Supt. Edward Aritonang, moved to protect the
\njournalist, yet several punches still managed to find their
\ntarget.<\/p>\n
While police tried hard to defend Eddy from the attack, other
\nofficers guarded the building by standing inside the building's
\nentrance gate.<\/p>\n
Eddy was later escorted into the police headquarters compound.<\/p>\n
Eddy suffered light injuries, a torn shirt and broken glasses.<\/p>\n
After the incident, Zainuddin said Eddy had defamed the
\ngroup's executive, M. Alwi Usman.<\/p>\n
\"I was standing next to him when he yelled that M. Alwi Usman
\nkept a lot of money in his red bag,\" he said, before admitting
\nthat he did not know that Eddy was a journalist.<\/p>\n
Zainuddin was referring to Alwi, who was standing in a pick up
\ntruck leading the protest carrying a red bag.<\/p>\n
Eddy, a journalist covering criminal stories, later said he
\ndid not mean to defame the group's executive and was only joking
\nto his friend Edison Siahaan from Berita Kota daily.<\/p>\n
\"I didn't say that he (Alwi), and the group, were being paid.
\nI only told my friend that the red bag carried by the Pak Haji
\nmight have a lot of money in it,\" he said, referring to Alwi as
\nPak Haji (a Muslim who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca).<\/p>\n
Legal action<\/p>\n
After the incident, Eddy, Zainuddin and Alwi were escorted to
\nthe South Jakarta Police Precinct to search for a solution.<\/p>\n
Eddy said he was considering legal action against the group.<\/p>\n
\"But I'll wait for my office's stance over the case,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Zainuddin said the group had yet to determine whether it would
\ntake legal action.<\/p>\n
\"Both parties must retrospect. We'll determine our position
\ntomorrow,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The FPI were protesting Sofyan Wanandi, who has been accused
\nof asking President Abdurrahman Wahid to order the arrest of
\nmembers of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR).<\/p>\n
Members of both legislative institutions have been accused of
\ncreating current political turmoil in the country.<\/p>\n
Among those mentioned are former minister of finance Fuad
\nBawazier and former minister of mining and energy Ginandjar
\nKartasasmita.<\/p>\n
Sofyan Wanandi is the chairman of the National Business
\nDevelopment Council.<\/p>\n
Zainuddin said the group had lodged a lawsuit with the
\nnational police's detectives unit. (asa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/fpi-members-attack-journalist-amid-protest-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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