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Mass groups report FPI's Munarman for alleged defamation

Jakarta Globe - January 16, 2017

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Denpasar. A number of mass groups have reported Munarman, spokesman for Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, over alleged defamation of Bali's traditional security guards, known locally as pecalang.

The report was filed by dozens of local mass groups, including Sandi Murti Foundation, Ansor Youth Group, Bali Nahdlatul Utama and Patriot Garuda Nusantara, to Bali Police in Denpasar on Monday (16/01)

I Gusti Agung Ngurah Harta, founder and chairman of Sandi Murti Foundation, said Munarman had lied when he told a meeting with representatives from news broadcaster Kompas TV that pecalang had been used in Bali to attack homes of Muslims and prohibit them to do Friday prayers.

During the meeting, Munarman protested Kompas TV for what he called a biased angle in reporting a raid on food stalls in Serang, Banten, during the Ramadan fasting month last year. The report captured public attention and sympathy for food stall owner Saeni who shed tears during the raid by the Public Order Agency personnel.

Harta said the relationship between Bali's Hindu and Muslims has been respectful and well for decades.

"We want to report this defamation since there were no such things [attacks to Muslims and prohibition of Islamic Friday prayer] here. We live peacefully. No pecalang officers have ever prohibited Muslims from praying. Otherwise, they safeguarded the prayer," Harta told reporters at Bali Police.

The report will be handled by Bali Police cyber crime unit. The plaintiffs also submitted YouYube video "FPI Meets and Reprimands Kompas TV over Anti-Shariah News Framing" to police.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/mass-groups-report-fpis-munarman-alleged-defamation/.