NGOs accuse Sutiyoso of rent-a-thug methods

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.