FPI members attack journalist amid protest

FPI members attack journalist amid protest

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Islamic Defender Front (FPI)
attacked on Friday a journalist covering a protest by the group
in front the National Police Headquarters on Jl. Trunojoyo in
South Jakarta.

Eddy Saputra Hasibuan, a journalist with Pos Kota morning
daily, was attacked by FPI members for allegedly defaming the
group's operational division deputy chairman, M. Alwi Usman.

Minutes before the attack, Eddy stood up in the middle of some
300 members of the group, who were demanding the police prosecute
noted businessman Sofyan Wanandi for his alleged involvement in
playing Islamic figures off against each other.

In the middle of the noisy protest, a man in long cream shirt
with a cell phone pointed at Eddy.

"He is the one who accused FPI members of carrying money!" the
man, who was later identified as Zainuddin, an FPI lawyer,
yelled.

Members of the group then beat Eddy several times.

Police personnel, including South Jakarta Police Precinct
chief Sr. Supt. Edward Aritonang, moved to protect the
journalist, yet several punches still managed to find their
target.

While police tried hard to defend Eddy from the attack, other
officers guarded the building by standing inside the building's
entrance gate.

Eddy was later escorted into the police headquarters compound.

Eddy suffered light injuries, a torn shirt and broken glasses.

After the incident, Zainuddin said Eddy had defamed the
group's executive, M. Alwi Usman.

"I was standing next to him when he yelled that M. Alwi Usman
kept a lot of money in his red bag," he said, before admitting
that he did not know that Eddy was a journalist.

Zainuddin was referring to Alwi, who was standing in a pick up
truck leading the protest carrying a red bag.

Eddy, a journalist covering criminal stories, later said he
did not mean to defame the group's executive and was only joking
to his friend Edison Siahaan from Berita Kota daily.

"I didn't say that he (Alwi), and the group, were being paid.
I only told my friend that the red bag carried by the Pak Haji
might have a lot of money in it," he said, referring to Alwi as
Pak Haji (a Muslim who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca).

Legal action

After the incident, Eddy, Zainuddin and Alwi were escorted to
the South Jakarta Police Precinct to search for a solution.

Eddy said he was considering legal action against the group.

"But I'll wait for my office's stance over the case," he said.

Zainuddin said the group had yet to determine whether it would
take legal action.

"Both parties must retrospect. We'll determine our position
tomorrow," he said.

The FPI were protesting Sofyan Wanandi, who has been accused
of asking President Abdurrahman Wahid to order the arrest of
members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Members of both legislative institutions have been accused of
creating current political turmoil in the country.

Among those mentioned are former minister of finance Fuad
Bawazier and former minister of mining and energy Ginandjar
Kartasasmita.

Sofyan Wanandi is the chairman of the National Business
Development Council.

Zainuddin said the group had lodged a lawsuit with the
national police's detectives unit. (asa)