FPI Demands Dismissal of W. Java Police Chief Following Last Week's Violent Clash in Bandung
Jakarta. The Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, delivered its demands during a meeting with National Police representatives following a rally by around 1,500 protestors in Jakarta on Monday (16/01).
Spokesman Brig. Gen. Rikwanto said 17 representatives of the FPI delivered their demands during a one-hour meeting at the National Police headquarters in Jalan Trunojoyo, South Jakarta.
They demand the dismissal of West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan over a violent scuffle that broke out between members of the hardline organization and the so-called Indonesian Grassroots Movement (GMBI) in Bandung last week while FPI leader Rizieq Shihab was being questioned by police.
The FPI accused the West Java Police of being partial in their handling of last week's incident, alleging that the chief was backing the GMBI because he is registered as head of the organization's advisory board.
The organization also demanded that the police disband the GMBI, describing it as a violent mass group, while questioning why there is no investigation into the alleged attack on FPI members.
The FPI also accused the police of being slow to respond to reports filed by its members.
The Muslim group demanded that the police act in a professional manner while staying out of politics. It also asked the police to investigate the rise of communism in Indonesia.
"I hope there will be a channel for these demands to go to the National Police's internal affairs division, in particular our request regarding the West Java Police chief," FPI spokesman Munarman said.
"I also hope that our clerics will not be criminalized," he added.
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