NGOs accuse Sutiyoso of rent-a-thug methods

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The threat from Betawi Brotherhood Forum's (FBR) to arrest and beat up Wardah Hafidz, leader of the Urban Poverty Consortium (UPC), has created great concern among other activists, while the police refuse to take any preventive action.

Article 368 of the Criminal Code stipulates that someone who issues a threat can be sentenced to nine year jail sentence.

Romo (Father) Sudrijanta, chairman of Jakarta Social Institute (ISJ), said on Friday that it was an usual phenomena practiced by Governor Sutiyoso and has occurred several times.

"The threat has given us a clear picture that the city administration is not just a thief but also a predator. It uses other groups of people to conduct violence to the public," he said.

During the March 13 rally at the City Hall, the FBR members chased flood victims carrying sticks and swords. The flood victims, organized by UPC, also staged a rally at the same place and time.

The members had planned to escort Wardah, recipient of Yap Thiam Thien award 2000, to the National Monument (Monas) and beat her if she failed to define her allegation that Sutiyoso paid the group for staging the rally.

Sudrijanta pointed out that Sutiyoso had effectively used the Betawi ethnic group to render sentiment towards those who opposed the administration policy.

Tubagus Kalbariyanto of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), said A. Fadloli El Muhir, chairman of FBR, could be detained for threatening physical violence toward another.

"This is an outright public intimidation. The police must detain him as he could harm others," he said.

Detective police chief, Sr. Comr. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, refused to comment on the threat, saying it was not a jurisdiction fact.

He also denies the possibility to detain Fadloli for issuing the threat.