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‘Several’ Detained at Chaotic Anti-FPI Rally as Police Ask for Calm
Anita Rachman | February 14, 2012

A protester is detained by Indonesian police after a protest against the hardline Muslim group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in Jakarta on Tuesday. Some 200 Indonesians converged on a Jakarta square to denounce the Islamic vigilante group known for its armed attacks on minorities and moderates. Police detained at least four people, but it was not clear if they were arrested or only questioned. (AFP Photo) A protester is detained by Indonesian police after a protest against the hardline Muslim group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in Jakarta on Tuesday. Some 200 Indonesians converged on a Jakarta square to denounce the Islamic vigilante group known for its armed attacks on minorities and moderates. Police detained at least four people, but it was not clear if they were arrested or only questioned. (AFP Photo)
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nobody.in.particular
12:24pm Feb 16, 2012

Why are people referring to the FPI as a vigilante group? They are a band of thugs and hooligans. Beating up (and even killing) people, destroying property, etc. are crimes. They are a crime syndicate, nothing more.


jchay
8:39am Feb 16, 2012

Quote: One organizer alleged that police had said to her: “If something happens [after the FPI comes to HI], that’s not our responsibility.”

People of Indonesia, remember this quote from the Indonesian Police, and it is obvious that it's not our responsibility anymore as citizens to pay our hard-earned tax paying money to the police, simply because they said it themselves that it's not their responsibility to serve and protect the people?!

jetset24
8:41am Feb 15, 2012

Where is the old strong man keeping the peace with a tight lid against radical religious disorderly conducts?? Well, may he rest in peace.


mcculdr
8:34am Feb 15, 2012

Indonesian police are like the television character Barney Fife. Only less courageous.

jusdogin
7:04am Feb 15, 2012

nice ad for indonesian police this it says hey protesters bring the means to defend yourselves because we will not keep the mob at bay

but i think we knew that

Police said they have detained “several” people who were being attacked by members of the crowd after trying to rip posters and signs out of protesters’ hands at a chaotic anti-Islamic Defenders Front rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Tuesday afternoon.

“There are several people we have escorted to our post... You don’t know how may spies there could be [in the crowd],” said Jakarta Police officer M. Nababan.

He said that the FPI could have agent provocateurs and “spies” milling among the protesters in order to stir up trouble.

“I have reminded the [protesters] to please hold a peaceful action, but today everything could easily be heated up. What if it explodes? Who will save the protesters?” he said.

Nababan said he hoped there would be no more violence, as the winner of any conflict would not be the police, but journalists.
“Who will win? The media, seeing police shooting people!” he said.

A Jakarta Globe reporter spotted members of the Liberal Islam Group (JIL) at the scene, and also said members of hardline groups other than the FPI were milling about.

Organizers of the rally against the use of violence by hardline groups had announced that they were aborting the protest shortly after it began due to fears that FPI members could arrive and spark a violent confrontation.

One organizer alleged that police had said to her: “If something happens [after the FPI comes to HI], that’s not our responsibility.”

Despite word of the rally being cancelled, television reports showed the traffic circle, and the streets surrounding it, to be filled with citizens, police and journalists milling about and disrupting traffic on the busy roundabout.

Scuffles were seen breaking out amongst the crowd, and Metro TV footage showed one man ripping a large anti-FPI banner out of the hands of one group of protesters and then becoming involved in a drawn out fight with several people.

Some officials blamed the outbreaks of violence on anarchist provocateurs hoping to incite a violent confrontation.