Witnesses claim attacked, intimidated during FPI trial

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 09/15/2008 8:00 PM | Jakarta

Witnesses and National Alliance for the Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB) activists said members of the alliance were attacked in between trial sessions of Islam Defender Front (FPI) defendants on Monday.

M. Guntur Romli, an activist who was accompanying his colleagues to testify in the trials, said seven FPI defendants and other members attacked AKKBB activists as they protested to police officers against FPI defendants being able to roam freely in the Central Jakarta District Court building.

AKKBB member Nong Darol Mahmada said she was hit on her forehead by the FPI members.

"We were debating with a police officer about the seven FPI defendants, when they started to yell `provocateurs' at us and attacked us," she told The Jakarta Post.

Nong said the police were unable to protect the AKKBB members, who were still being attacked as they ran for safety into a court room. The activist said the alliance members were treated unfairly during the FPI trial.

"We were attacked at Monas (the National Monument). Now, during they trial they intimidate us, verbally and physically," she said.

Hundreds of FPI members were present during trial sessions. Police has been deployed to guard the sessions

Guntur said, however, AKKBB was considering bringing their own mass for protection.

FPI chairman Rizieq Shihab and nine members are currently charged over FPI's violent ambush on AKKBB activists rallying at Monas on June 1. Some 70 activists were injured during the attacks on the rally. (dre)

Comments (3) | Post comment

A | A | A |