Jihad Force declares 'war'

SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): The commander of a Jihad Force Ja'far Umar Tholib, declared on Friday that Surakarta was a battleground for his group to fight hoodlums.

Speaking in front of some 2,000 people at the Surakarta Islamic Hall on Friday, Ja'far stated that the country's security should not be afraid to face hoodlums.

"We told them (the hoodlums) politely to shun immoral acts, but they ignored us and challenged us, so we have to fight them back," Ja'far said.

"They're not the only ones who have power. Ours is bigger," he asserted.

Ja'far also instructed Jihad Force members to refuse a police summons following the recent destruction of a cafe.

"We won't accept the police summons if the police don't summon hoodlums who burned the City Hall in last year's riot," he said. (23/hdn)