Sole candidate wants to ‘embrace’ FPI

National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Timur Pradopo has sparked controversy with his plan to embrace the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI), citing his bid to maintain domestic security.

Smooth exit: Top cop candidate Comr. Gen. Timur Pradopo exits a closed-door meeting with leaders at the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Wednesday. Timur will face a fit-and-proper test by legislators next week, in which they will assess his ability to serve as National Police chief.JP/Wendra Ajistyatama

“We have to be close to all elements of society, including the FPI,” Timur told reporters at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

He confirmed reports he had been building ties with the organization, which has become infamous for raiding nightclubs and minority groups.

“I am close to the FPI in the context of maintaining Jakarta security,” he said.

Timur insisted on the need to work with the FPI, saying the organization had numerous prominent and influential leaders who could help the police guard domestic security.

Incumbent National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said recently that the FPI was one of the most active mass organizations that justified the use of violence in its actions. So far this year, according to Bambang, the FPI has been linked to 49 acts of violence across Indonesia.

Following an attack on Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKBP) leaders in the West Java regency of Bekasi last month, the police threatened to dissolve mass organizations that committed violence and sparked public fear.

Separately, human rights activist Hendardi from Setara Institute said Timur’s plan to embrace the FPI was “pathetic”, adding that this proved the police’s incapability of providing security using their own resources.

Hendardi urged the House of Representatives’ Commission III on Law to grill Timur to clarify his statement during his interview, which is scheduled to take place later this week.

Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Usman Hamid said Timur had been aiming to boost his popularity among vigilante groups with his statement.

Usman suggested President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono choose a better candidate to replace the current National Police chief.

“If SBY is committed to democracy, he should have named a candidate who is willing to work with civil society groups rather than vigilante organizations,” Usman said.

Numerous human rights groups have recently raised concerns over Timur’s candidacy because of his past involvement in violent incidents, in some of which civilians’ lives were taken and human rights violations occurred.

In 1998, Timur was West Jakarta Police chief and was the vice commander of the Mantap Jaya III operation, which was involved in the Trisakti incident that claimed the lives of four students. A year later, Timur, as Central Jakarta Police chief was also considered unable to prevent the fatal shooting incident in the Semanggi area.

This year, a number of violent acts and incidents erupted during Timur’s four-month tenure as the Jakarta Police chief. They included an attack on antigraft activist Tama S. Langkun, the raid on HKBP leaders in Bekasi and the recent clash between two ethnic groups on Jl Ampera in South Jakarta, which left three people dead.