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Calls mounting for disbandment of FPI
Jakarta Globe - January 20, 2017
Thousands of members of the United West Java People's Coalition demanded the disbandment of the FPI during a peaceful rally in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday (19/01).
Representatives of mass organizations, ulemas, nongovernmental organizations, student groups and members of the public submitted a petition to West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan after the rally in the hope it will be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
"We ask the president, House of Representatives, People's Consultative Assembly, Indonesian Military chief, National Police chief and other authorized officials to immediately disband and ban the FPI," Indonesian Grassroots Movement (GMBI) chairman Fauzan Rachman said during the rally.
A similar action was organized by the Cleric Alliance Forum in Garut, West Java, on Wednesday, when around 200 people gathered to also demand the disbandment of the FPI.
In Ciamis, West Java, hundreds of members of the National Defenders of the Indonesian Unity Movement (GNP NKRI) demanded a similar course of action, in addition to the arrest of FPI leader Rizieq Shihab.
Regional leaders of the Ansor Youth Movement in Bangka Belitung have also rejected Rizieq's presence in the region, while urging President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and the Home Affairs Ministry to disband the organization.
Teuku Taufiqulhadi, a member of House of Representatives Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, has meanwhile asked state officials to take firm action against intolerant groups.
"If [they are allowed], it means there will be no diversity, no spirit of pluralism in Indonesia, despite our state ideology of Pancasila. So do not force their perspectives on others," Taufiqulhadi said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
While calls for the disbandment of the hardline group have been raised for several years already, the FPI seems to be immune to such action.
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Masinton Pasaribu said now is a perfect time for the government to act against intolerant groups or any actions aimed at pressuring law enforcement agencies.
"The government should pay attention to this issue," Masinton said. He added that officials should reprimand, or even disband mass organizations if they persist with intolerant behavior.
"It is just like playing football, every violation should be sanctioned. Starting from yellow cards to red cards. If [these organizations] repeatedly violate the law, they should be given red cards. Disbandment of an organization is allowed by law," Masinton said.
The FPI and its sympathizers have repeatedly sparked controversies, including the recent attack on the office of the GMBI in in Ciampea near Bogor, West Java, in apparent retaliation of a violent clash between members of the two organizations in Bandung the day before.
Twelve people have so far been arrested and named suspects in connection with the arson attack. Rizieq is meanwhile facing a string of charges, ranging from blasphemy allegations and hate speech, to defamation.
He was also recently reported to the Jakarta Police for saying that the new Indonesian banknotes feature the logo of the long-disbanded and prohibited Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). Video footage of the speech in which he made the comment subsequently went viral on social media.
Several watchdog organizations and experts have called on the National Police to fast-track the investigations against him.
Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/calls-mounting-for-disbandment-of-fpi/.
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