Mobs signal return of political thuggery

Mobs signal return of political thuggery

Ahmad Junaidi and Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Actions speak louder than words, but sadly some equate this as
wanton violence and are proud of it even if their actions are
nothing more than thuggery.

Recent events show that political thuggery may be back in
fashion after a mob ransacked the Commission for Missing Persons
and Victims of Violence (Kontras) office and a group calling
themselves the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR) attacked helpless
residents protesting injustice.

But FBR Chairman Ahmad Fadloli El Muhir on Saturday was
unrepentant, promising further reprisals against the Urban Poor
Consortium (UPC), particularly chairwoman Wardah Hafidz, if she
keeps up her activism.

"Legal action takes time," he charged at FBR's headquarters on
Jl. Raya Penggilingan, East Jakarta.

"We would favor beating up Wardah if she continues slandering
us," said Fadloli.

Surprising words from a former legislative candidate.

Fadloli also happens to be the Jakarta chapter chairman of the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) which currently has no seat at
the City Council.

Coercion is not a new phenomenon in the political scene, but
it is extremely worrying when police seem to do little about it.

Sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo warned that such violent acts
could be imitated by others if police fail to take firm action.

"I hope the police seriously investigate the incidents in
Kontras and the Komnas HAM to avoid such an incident being
repeated," he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

An FBR mob injured 47 people, including a four-year-old boy,
when they attacked on Thursday a group of residents protesting
the violation of a court ruling on their forced eviction to the
National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

The protest was organized by UPC.

Another notable mob attack occurred on March 13 when an
unidentified group ransacked the Kontras office in Central
Jakarta. One man was severely injured in the incident.

Imam accused police of neglecting security because the target
of such attacks were often activists who in the past organized
rallies against authorities.

Instead, they tend to pay attention to hyped issues such as
the trials of Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung and Hutomo "Tommy"
Mandala Putra.

"People have begun to think that such violent behavior is
common. That's why they don't respond critically to such an
incident," Imam said.

Wardah, who on Thursday was threatened by FBR members with a
machete to her throat, claimed the attack was an effort of
certain elements in the military to impress on the public that a
civilian government would fail to create peaceful conditions.

"They (the military) have tried to provoke the urban poor.
Thursday's accident was just an example," she said.

"The FBR members and the UPC are the poor people and both have
been provoked in a clash. If they continue with such an approach,
it could spark new conflict."

Wardah also called on all gubernatorial candidates to stop
exploiting the poor ahead of the election.

"They must employ a fair play approach to win the people's
support. They should no longer mobilize the poor to hold actions
which could disturb security in the capital," said the 2000 Yap
Thiam Hien award recipient.

Wardah had accused FBR members of receiving money from
Governor Sutiyoso -- who was Jakarta Military Commander during
the infamous July 27, 1996, bloody attack on PDI headquarters --
following a clash between FBR members and the UPC in a rally in
front of City Hall on March 13.

Fadloli became furious and threatened to beat up Wardah. He
acted on his threat last Thursday. Jakarta Police have arrested
seven FBR members in connection with the attack.

Detective chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said they
would summon Fadloli for questioning soon. He could not confirm
whether the police would name Fadloli as a suspect and arrest him
due to the incident.

"It will all depend on the result of our questioning of him
(Fadloli) and the seven arrested FBR members," he said.

Fadloli has repeatedly denied that his organization was funded
by Sutiyoso but admitted to support the governor claiming that he
has done much for the Betawi people during his tenure which ends
in October.

"We would not support a governor from the Betawi people if he
or she could not improve the people's welfare," said Fadloli, who
has run an orphanage for 60 children since 1990 at his
headquarters.

Sutiyoso also denied financing FBR but was pleased by the
group's support.

Founded on July 29, 2000, the FBR was established to help
Betawi youths find jobs. The organization, which claims to have
no political interests, now has 7,000 members -- mostly blue
collar workers, ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers and the
unemployed.