FPI members told to keep calm<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The detained chairman of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) radical
\ngroup called on its members on Monday to keep calm and avoid
\nviolent actions, especially entering the Ramadhan fasting month.<\/p>\n
FPI chairman Al Habib Rizieq Shihab made the call to members
\nof the group who visited him at Jakarta Police Headquarters,
\nwhere he has been detained since Oct. 16 on charges of
\ninstigating violence and vandalism.<\/p>\n
\"Habib Rizieq is deeply concerned with the situation outside
\nthe police detention center,\" a senior FPI member, Habib Faisol,
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"He is afraid that FPI members will get angry on account of
\nhis detention and has called on the members to stay patient
\nespecially with the arrival of the Ramadhan fasting month.\"<\/p>\n
Faisol also said that Rizieq was in good health and was
\ndisplaying no signs of stress.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of FPI members visited the group's chairman to wish
\nhim well during the Ramadhan fasting month.<\/p>\n
Also present were members of the Surakarta Islamic Youth Forum
\n(FPIS).<\/p>\n
When asked whether the FPI would raid nightspots during the
\nfasting month as had happened in the past, Faisol said there had
\nbeen no such instructions from Rizieq.<\/p>\n
\"Our members, however, will continue patrolling the nightspots
\neven without the presence of Habib Rizieq,\" he said. \"It is
\nimportant to keep control over nightspots that defy the
\ngovernment's orders.\"<\/p>\n
The city administration has banned certain nightspots, such as
\ndiscotheques and massage parlors, from operating during the
\nfasting month while places such as cafes, singing halls and pubs
\nwill be allowed to operate between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.<\/p>\n
Discotheques in star-rated hotels are allowed to remain open
\nbut they must close on the first day of Ramadhan, the night of
\nthe revelation of the Koran in the middle of Ramadhan and on the
\ntwo days of Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the morning, the South Jakarta District Court
\nopened the first hearing into Rizieq's legal fight against the
\nJakarta Police over his detention.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Mahendradatta told the court, which was packed with
\nRizieq's FPI members and supporters, that the police could not
\ndetain his client without strong grounds. He also said that the
\npolice had seized documents from the FPI offices without a search
\nwarrant.<\/p>\n
The lawyers urged Judge Effendi to declare the detention
\ninvalid and to order the police to present Rizieq in court to
\nhear the ruling on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Police's lawyer, Soeyitno, claimed that the
\ndetention was in compliance with the Criminal Procedures Code
\n(KUHAP).<\/p>\n
He also said that counsel had no right to demand the presence
\nof Rizieq, who was still in police custody undergoing
\ninvestigation.<\/p>",
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