FPI to finally face action from police
FPI to finally face action from police
JAKARTA (JP): After being seemingly helpless watching the
spate of violent attacks on many nightspots by members of the
Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), the National Police finally
announced that they would no longer tolerate the group's unlawful
activities.
Spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf warned that stern measures
would be taken should the group launch any more attacks.
"If necessary, we will look into previous attacks (to bring
the guilty FPI members to jail)," Saleh told reporters at his
office.
"FPI's acts have cornered the police," Saleh said.
"They can't enforce law by breaking it. This nation is still
based on law."
According to Saleh, the group had been violating Article 170
of the Criminal Code which can result in up to 12 years in jail.
The officer, unfortunately, would not give an explanation why
police were unable to stop the violent attacks, which have
disturbed foreign investors.
FPI members, usually attired in Muslim-style clothes and armed
with sticks and swords, have stormed numerous entertainment
centers and other businesses such as discotheques, pubs, and
restaurants that they considered sinful.
They accused the establishments of being covers for offering
sex services, drugs, gambling and alcoholic drinks.
In places they vandalized, people attempting to resist were
struck down, forcing guests to flee for safety.
Their attacks peaked with the start of the Muslim fasting
month of Ramadhan.
On Thursday morning, hundreds of FPI members attacked the
Mickey Mouse pinball arcade at the food court of the Megamal
Pluit shopping center in Pluit, North Jakarta.
The group claimed that the arcade had been used for gambling.
They vandalized the arcade and 40 pinball machines and injured
six security personnel guarding the arcade. Two FPI members were
cut by broken glass.
Closed
"Police have detained 58 people from FPI for questioning,"
Saleh said, adding that the arcade was actually closed when the
group stormed the place.
Thamrin Djarmain, director of city-run PT Pembangunan Pluit
Jaya, which is in charge of the development of Pluit area, said
that the arcade was a property of the city government that had
been closed since September.
"The place was leased to an individual three years ago for
karaoke business," Thamrin told reporters at the city hall.
"But it was sealed because the tenant converted it into a
pinball arcade," he said, adding that the tenant had been
operating the pinball business secretly.
Thamrin demanded the tenant repair the damage caused by the
Muslim group.
Some accused FPI of attacking the arcade because the operator
refused to pay the "security fee".
But leaders of the front strongly denied the allegation,
saying that such accusations were totally baseless.
The group's violent acts have drawn protests from many Muslim
activists, saying that what the group did by raiding the
entertainment centers, destroying property and injuring people,
was purely criminal.
Muslim activists including executive of the Muhammadiyah
Muslim Youth Association (PP Muhammadiyah) Nadjamuddin Ramly and
former chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Students Association
(HMI) Ridwan Saidi urged police to take a stern measures against
the FPI.
Governor Sutiyoso has also asked the city police to stop the
attacks on entertainment centers.
Sutiyoso said that, although the city administration had
established the tripartite security system, involving officers
from the police, the military and city public order officials, it
was still the responsibility of the police to arrest those who
commit acts of violence.
FPI executive Reza Pahlevi has repeatedly insisted that the
group would continue attacking such places even if the police
tried to stop them.
"If the authorities stand in our way, so be it. If you live in
nobility, you'll die as a syuhada (a person who dies for Islam),"
Reza said.(jaw)