Bogor FPI To Conduct Ramadan Raids Despite Police Warning

The Jakarta Globe, Jun 30, 2014


Bogor. The Bogor branch of the Muslim hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) has pledged to take action against premises not respecting the rules of Ramadan, disregarding police statements that religious vigilantism will not be tolerated.

“We urge everyone to respect one another,” Bogor FPI head Muhammad Zaini said on Monday. “If we come across entertainment venues and warteg [food vendors] serving food we will take action.”

Indonesia’s constitution recognizes several religions, but Zaini said on Monday that any activities that were “a disturbance to Muslims” should be stopped during the fasting month. Zaini also said that everyone in society should be monitoring hotels that allow unmarried couples to stay in their premises over the next four weeks and that “the government must shut down immoral places still operating in Bogor.”

“That also applies to food vendors that are open during the day,” Muhammad said.

Several skirmishes to shut down establishments selling alcohol have turned violent. In Makassar, South Sulawesi, last year, FPI members were caught on security camera vandalizing a shop alleged to be selling alcoholic beverages. In the same month, one woman was killed after a raid escalated into a violent clash between local residents and members of the hard-line group in Kendal, Central Java.

The series of incidents triggered strong statements against the group by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who condemned the actions and said the FPI and other groups should be prevented from taking the law into their own hands.

Bogor Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Bahtiar Ujang Purnama has promised he would take firm action against mass organizations carrying out acts of intimidation or raids during Ramadan.

“Let us and the government conduct the supervision and law-enforcement,” Bahtiar said, adding that the police were cooperating with the Bogor Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) in their work throughout the fasting month. Bahtiar also encouraged owners of entertainment venues to comply with limited operational hours issued during this period.


(Yup, beware of cops speaking with "crooked tongue" and "lu**&tjes rozenwater" from the FPI who need to learn that actions such as theirs are not permitted during Ramadan according to Islamic Teaching) siK.



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