German Embassy Apologizes for Diplomat's Visit to FPI Headquarters

Jakarta. The German Embassy in Indonesia has apologized for their recent diplomat's visit to the hardline group Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Sunday.
The report of a German diplomat's visit to FPI's secretariat in Petamburan on Thursday has caused an uproar. On Sunday, the ministry had asked the embassy for clarification and to show protest against the meeting. In response, the embassy's chief representative confirmed that the staff was, in fact, in FPI's headquarters.
"But the visit was on the staff's own initiative, without any order nor knowledge of the embassy. For this, the chief representative has expressed their apology and regret this event," the Foreign Affairs Ministry wrote in their official statement.
The chief representative also assured the visit does not reflect the German government or the embassy's policy. Nor was it a form of support to FPI.
"The German Embassy also asserted their support and commitment to continue their bilateral partnership with Indonesia to fight intolerance, radicalism, and hate speech," the ministry said.
The ministry has asked the embassy to release an official statement. The embassy will also repatriate the diplomat to take responsibility for their actions and to clarify to the German government, the ministry added.
Connection to Terrorism
For the past few weeks, FPI has been sitting in the hot seat for numerous reasons, starting from their leader's return to Indonesia, suspected breaches of Covid-19 protocols, to the group's connection to terrorism.
According to Benny Mamoto, the head of the University of Indonesia's police and terrorism studies research center, at least 37 FPI members or former members are involved in terrorism. These people have also received a verdict for their actions.
"There are those involved in a terror act, whether they have joined a terrorist network or those who [were at the time] still active [in FPI]," Benny, who is also a National Police Commission commissioner, told Jakarta Globe's sister publication Beritasatu on Thursday.
In response, FPI general secretary Munarman claimed not everyone on the list is an FPI member and claimed the statement was just an attempt to discredit the hardline group following the deadly shooting of six of its members by the police two weeks ago.
"They have been sentenced, and on that list, not everyone is FPI members. This is only a distraction from the massacre and the gross violation of human rights [in the shooting of six FPI members]," Munarman also told Beritasatu.
He said Benny's statement was only a spiral of violence directed to FPI through labeling.
"This violence by the state apparatus repeats and continues to justify state apparatus brutality," Munarman said.
Tags: Keywords:Related Articles
Iran Urges UN Members, Indonesia Take ‘Collective Action’ After Israeli Strike
Hours after the bombing,UN member Indonesia strongly condemns Israel's attack on Iran.Indonesia Frowns On US Detaining Its Citizen Without Due Process as Five Get Deported
Trump's nationwide immigration crackdown has caught 20 Indonesians so far, five of whom have been deported.Gov’t Denies Reports of Relocating Gazans to Indonesia
According to a Hebrew media report, about 100 Gazans will head to Indonesia as construction workers.Six Indonesian Umrah Pilgrims Die in Saudi Bus Crash
Six Indonesian Umrah pilgrims died in a bus crash in Saudi Arabia on Thursday afternoon local time, according to the Foreign Ministry.400 Indonesians Rescued from Human Trafficking in Myanmar
Indonesia has evacuated 400 trafficking victims from Myanmar’s conflict zone. They are now en route home after a rescue effort via Thailand.Indonesian Migrants Reclaim $13 Million in Unpaid Wages, Insurance
The Foreign Ministry has helped Indonesians abroad to recover $13 million in financial rights (i.e. unpaid wages and insurance.)157 Indonesians Face Death Penalty Overseas
About 111 of the 157 Indonesians on death row abroad are convicted of drug offenses.Over 4,200 Indonesians Marked for Deportation from the US
About 4,276 Indonesians face deportation from the US amid Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.No Formal Talks with UK to Return Serial Rapist Reynhard Sinaga Yet: Foreign Ministry
Indonesian national Reynhard Sinaga got convicted of 159 sex offenses, including 136 counts of rapes against dozens of men in the UK.Gov’t to Repatriate Body of Indonesian Killed in Chopper Crash in Malaysia Soon
The body of the Indonesian engineer who died in the Bentong chopper crash is still in a local hospital.The Latest
Bloody Brawl Erupts at Cockfighting Arena in Bali, Leaving One Dead
Cockfighting, known locally as tajen, is a traditional but controversial practice in Bali.Military Parade Rolls Through DC as 'No Kings' Protesters across US Decry Trump
About 6 in 10 Americans said Saturday’s parade was “not a good use” of government money.Hard Rain, Harder Rock: The SIGIT Ignites Semesta Berpesta in Soaked Bandung Night
The SIGIT lit up a rain-soaked Semesta Berpesta in Bandung, with fans moshing in ponchos and singing through the drizzle.Air India Crash Death Toll Rises to 270
Air India crash death toll climbs to 270 as search teams recover more bodies; investigators analyze black box for crash clues.Australian Man Killed, Another Injured in Bali Villa Shooting
An Australian man was killed and another wounded after a gunman broke into their villa in Bali's Badung regency early Saturday morning.Most Popular
