Mobs signal return of political thuggery<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi and Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Actions speak louder than words, but sadly some equate this as
\nwanton violence and are proud of it even if their actions are
\nnothing more than thuggery.<\/p>\n
Recent events show that political thuggery may be back in
\nfashion after a mob ransacked the Commission for Missing Persons
\nand Victims of Violence (Kontras) office and a group calling
\nthemselves the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) attacked helpless
\nresidents protesting injustice.<\/p>\n
But FBR Chairman Ahmad Fadloli El Muhir on Saturday was
\nunrepentant, promising further reprisals against the Urban Poor
\nConsortium (UPC), particularly chairwoman Wardah Hafidz, if she
\nkeeps up her activism.<\/p>\n
\"Legal action takes time,\" he charged at FBR's headquarters on
\nJl. Raya Penggilingan, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We would favor beating up Wardah if she continues slandering
\nus,\" said Fadloli.<\/p>\n
Surprising words from a former legislative candidate.<\/p>\n
Fadloli also happens to be the Jakarta chapter chairman of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) which currently has no seat at
\nthe City Council.<\/p>\n
Coercion is not a new phenomenon in the political scene, but
\nit is extremely worrying when police seem to do little about it.<\/p>\n
Sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo warned that such violent acts
\ncould be imitated by others if police fail to take firm action.<\/p>\n
\"I hope the police seriously investigate the incidents in
\nKontras and the Komnas HAM to avoid such an incident being
\nrepeated,\" he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
An FBR mob injured 47 people, including a four-year-old boy,
\nwhen they attacked on Thursday a group of residents protesting
\nthe violation of a court ruling on their forced eviction to the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).<\/p>\n
The protest was organized by UPC.<\/p>\n
Another notable mob attack occurred on March 13 when an
\nunidentified group ransacked the Kontras office in Central
\nJakarta. One man was severely injured in the incident.<\/p>\n
Imam accused police of neglecting security because the target
\nof such attacks were often activists who in the past organized
\nrallies against authorities.<\/p>\n
Instead, they tend to pay attention to hyped issues such as
\nthe trials of Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung and Hutomo \"Tommy\"
\nMandala Putra.<\/p>\n
\"People have begun to think that such violent behavior is
\ncommon. That's why they don't respond critically to such an
\nincident,\" Imam said.<\/p>\n
Wardah, who on Thursday was threatened by FBR members with a
\nmachete to her throat, claimed the attack was an effort of
\ncertain elements in the military to impress on the public that a
\ncivilian government would fail to create peaceful conditions.<\/p>\n
\"They (the military) have tried to provoke the urban poor.
\nThursday's accident was just an example,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"The FBR members and the UPC are the poor people and both have
\nbeen provoked in a clash. If they continue with such an approach,
\nit could spark new conflict.\"<\/p>\n
Wardah also called on all gubernatorial candidates to stop
\nexploiting the poor ahead of the election.<\/p>\n
\"They must employ a fair play approach to win the people's
\nsupport. They should no longer mobilize the poor to hold actions
\nwhich could disturb security in the capital,\" said the 2000 Yap
\nThiam Hien award recipient.<\/p>\n
Wardah had accused FBR members of receiving money from
\nGovernor Sutiyoso -- who was Jakarta Military Commander during
\nthe infamous July 27, 1996, bloody attack on PDI headquarters --
\nfollowing a clash between FBR members and the UPC in a rally in
\nfront of City Hall on March 13.<\/p>\n
Fadloli became furious and threatened to beat up Wardah. He
\nacted on his threat last Thursday. Jakarta Police have arrested
\nseven FBR members in connection with the attack.<\/p>\n
Detective chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said they
\nwould summon Fadloli for questioning soon. He could not confirm
\nwhether the police would name Fadloli as a suspect and arrest him
\ndue to the incident.<\/p>\n
\"It will all depend on the result of our questioning of him
\n(Fadloli) and the seven arrested FBR members,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Fadloli has repeatedly denied that his organization was funded
\nby Sutiyoso but admitted to support the governor claiming that he
\nhas done much for the Betawi people during his tenure which ends
\nin October.<\/p>\n
\"We would not support a governor from the Betawi people if he
\nor she could not improve the people's welfare,\" said Fadloli, who
\nhas run an orphanage for 60 children since 1990 at his
\nheadquarters.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso also denied financing FBR but was pleased by the
\ngroup's support.<\/p>\n
Founded on July 29, 2000, the FBR was established to help
\nBetawi youths find jobs. The organization, which claims to have
\nno political interests, now has 7,000 members -- mostly blue
\ncollar workers, ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers and the
\nunemployed.<\/p>",
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