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Police call on FPI, GMBI to tone down conflict
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Under investigation – Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Habib Rizieq (left) arrives at the West Java Police headquarters in Bandung, West Java, for questioning on Jan. 12. Rizieq was questioned in the police's investigation into a case involving dishonoring the state ideology of Pancasila, as reported by Sukmawati Soekarnoputri.
(Antara/Fahrul Jayadiputra)
P
olice have asked the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and the Indonesian General Society Movement (GMBI), which were involved in violence in Ciampea, Bogor, West Java, to refrain from mobilizing their supporters, as investigators look into the case.
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said any group mobilizing the masses during the questioning sessions would likely provoke a response by the other group gathering the same number of people, which could disturb the investigation.
“[Mobilizing the masses] is like pressing the investigators, [making them] not objective,” Tito said at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Wednesday. “I ask the investigators to remain independent.”
(Read also: Petition calls for disbandment of FPI)
Supporters of the FPI and the GMBI clashed after the questioning of FPI leader Rizieq Shihab by West Java Police in Bandung last week.
Following the clash, a GMBI office in Ciampea was attacked and set on fire by a group of people. Some 12 people, allegedly FPI members, have been arrested over the arson attack and named as suspects.
On Monday, hundreds of FPI members and sympathizers flocked to the National Police headquarters to demand the dismissal of West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan. The FPI accused Anton, who is the head of the GMBI advisory board, to side with the GMBI in the case.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said on Tuesday that the police’s internal affairs division (Propam) was following up the FPI’s accusation. (jun)
