Police fire at FPI truck after game centers attacked
JAKARTA (JP): Responding to criticism against their sluggishness in enforcing the law to groups which continuously raid entertainment centers in the capital, policemen shot at a truck loaded with members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) who had just vandalized entertainment centers early Monday.
A police report said that there was no injuries reported from the shooting since the West Jakarta Police officers only shot the tires of the truck that was used by the group in a bid to stop it.
The group had just returned from vandalizing four game centers at the Taman Duta Mas shopping complex in Jelambar, West Jakarta, police report said.
The report said that some 200 members of the group arrived at the complex at around 1 a.m. on a truck. Using several objects which included crowbars they broke into the game centers which were closed at the time.
"The group destroyed several poker machines in the game centers. They also stole five air conditioners and one (drinking water) dispenser", an officer reported.
When police officers arrived at the scene, the assailants were holding two employees from one game center as hostage, before trying to escape in the truck.
In an attempt to stop the truck police fired three warning shots. The truck kept speeding until police shot the truck tires. However, all of the group managed to escape. No arrests have been made in connection with this incident.
FPI is known to have raided several entertainment centers on the premise that -- as the group has claimed -- are being used for prostitution, gambling and drug transaction places.
The group often reportedly destroys equipment in the entertainment centers during their attacks.
Many Muslim activists, however, have showed their opposition to FPI's way of fighting businesses they considered sinful.
Last week, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf announced that police would no longer tolerate such unlawful acts by FPI.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said that Monday's shooting was the police's way to prevent any further arbitrary unlawful acts from becoming a trend of the group.
"We don't want to be arrogant, but (the shooting) was merely an effort to protect the people from any kind of lawless actions," Mulyono told reporters at the Jakarta Police Headquarters.
On Saturday night, an unidentified group attacked the Salsa Club Cafe and the Pasir Putih Seafood Market Grill and Bar restaurant in Kemang, South Jakarta. The attackers looted the restaurants and stole cafe patrons belongings, including wallets and cellular phones.
Condemnation
Separately, FPI condemned police for the shooting, saying that the action was erroneous since the police randomly shot FPI's car which was driving along peacefully.
"It was such an uncivilized act," FPI's chairman Rezik told a media conference at their base in Petamburan, Central Jakarta.
Rezik said that the group had raided the game centers as they were used for gambling. He added that the officers shot a Kijang van, which was used by the group for "monitoring", not the truck used to transport FPI members in the predawn raid.
Rezik said that the shooting indicated that the West Jakarta Police condoned the businesses concerned.
He also denied that the group members had tried to steal anything from the complex.
"It is slanderous!" Rezik said in a raised voice, adding that the group demanded West Jakarta Police chief Supt. Iwan Nurisman Ismet should resign for his subordinates' actions.
FPI has also filed a report at the Jakarta Police Headquarters on the shooting.
Rezik said that FPI vowed to continue raiding entertainment centers they believed to be used for any immoral activities. (jaw)