FPI members told to keep calm

FPI members told to keep calm

Novan Iman Santosa and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

The detained chairman of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) radical
group called on its members on Monday to keep calm and avoid
violent actions, especially entering the Ramadhan fasting month.

FPI chairman Al Habib Rizieq Shihab made the call to members
of the group who visited him at Jakarta Police Headquarters,
where he has been detained since Oct. 16 on charges of
instigating violence and vandalism.

"Habib Rizieq is deeply concerned with the situation outside
the police detention center," a senior FPI member, Habib Faisol,
told The Jakarta Post.

"He is afraid that FPI members will get angry on account of
his detention and has called on the members to stay patient
especially with the arrival of the Ramadhan fasting month."

Faisol also said that Rizieq was in good health and was
displaying no signs of stress.

Hundreds of FPI members visited the group's chairman to wish
him well during the Ramadhan fasting month.

Also present were members of the Surakarta Islamic Youth Forum
(FPIS).

When asked whether the FPI would raid nightspots during the
fasting month as had happened in the past, Faisol said there had
been no such instructions from Rizieq.

"Our members, however, will continue patrolling the nightspots
even without the presence of Habib Rizieq," he said. "It is
important to keep control over nightspots that defy the
government's orders."

The city administration has banned certain nightspots, such as
discotheques and massage parlors, from operating during the
fasting month while places such as cafes, singing halls and pubs
will be allowed to operate between 8:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.

Discotheques in star-rated hotels are allowed to remain open
but they must close on the first day of Ramadhan, the night of
the revelation of the Koran in the middle of Ramadhan and on the
two days of Idul Fitri.

Earlier in the morning, the South Jakarta District Court
opened the first hearing into Rizieq's legal fight against the
Jakarta Police over his detention.

Lawyer Mahendradatta told the court, which was packed with
Rizieq's FPI members and supporters, that the police could not
detain his client without strong grounds. He also said that the
police had seized documents from the FPI offices without a search
warrant.

The lawyers urged Judge Effendi to declare the detention
invalid and to order the police to present Rizieq in court to
hear the ruling on Tuesday.

The Jakarta Police's lawyer, Soeyitno, claimed that the
detention was in compliance with the Criminal Procedures Code
(KUHAP).

He also said that counsel had no right to demand the presence
of Rizieq, who was still in police custody undergoing
investigation.