FPI quizzes Sutiyoso's stand

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At least 50 members of religious hard-line group Islam Defenders Front (FPI) sought an explanation from Governor Sutiyoso about the latter's stance on gambling and transsexuals.

"We want to hear from Sutiyoso himself whether or not he has donated Rp 100 million of the city budget to the pageant for transsexuals recently, and if he supports the idea of legalizing gambling in the city," said FPI's paramilitary wing commander Ahmad Sabri Lubis.

He met with Sutiyoso's subordinates, as the Governor was in a meeting.

Lubis said the organization suspected that Sutiyoso had ignored prevailing regulations which outlaw beauty pageants for transsexuals as well as gambling.

Lubis claimed that the FPI received a tip-off that Sutiyoso was also present at the beauty contest and donated around Rp 100 million for the event held at the Sarinah building on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta early last week.

More than 100 FPI members came to protest against the Miss Waria Indonesia, but the organizers refused to bow down to the protesters' demand to stop the event and went on with the contest under heavy security provided by the police.

In addition, Lubis said that FPI also alleged that Sutiyoso's administration was attempting to permit gambling businesses in the capital.

He asserted that by tolerating the beauty contest, Sutiyoso's administration had shown "serious contempt for Islamic teachings and law, which would lead to devastation of the whole society".

Another protester, who introduced himself as a representative of FPI West Java warned that Sutiyoso's stance would become a precedent for other provinces in the country.

Meanwhile, Juwita Harahap, head of the city's crisis center denied that Sutiyoso had donated money for the pageant.

"So far, there has been no decree issued by Sutiyoso over the use of city budget for a beauty pageant for transsexuals. My unit will be the first to know of any donations given for such events," Juwita said.

Juwita also asserted that the administration would do nothing that contravened prevailing regulations or laws.

However, she promised to convey FPI's allegations and complaints to Sutiyoso.

FPI has become notorious for its violent raids on night clubs and entertainment centers across the capital in the past five years.