Cops to Let FPI Protest Peacefully During Basuki’s Swearing-In Today

The Jakarta Globe, Sep 24, 2014


Jakarta. The Jakarta Police are planning to deploy 300 to 400 officers to safeguard today’s inauguration of future Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as the city’s governor, following a threat by the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, to disrupt the event.

The group has demanded that Deputy Governor Basuki — a Christian of Chinese descent whom the FPI has described as an “arrogant infidel” — not be inaugurated as governor to replace Joko Widodo, who will be sworn in as president next month.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said that police would not prevent the FPI from staging a demonstration, but warned the protesters against violence.

“If the demonstration gets out of hand, we have procedures to anticipate it… [including] dispersing the crowd through the use of tear gas and water cannons,” he said on Tuesday.

The officers monitoring the demonstration will come from the Jakarta Police and the Central Jakarta Police, Rikwanto added. “[Police] will coordinate with the [FPI’s] field coordinator… not to bring contraband like bladed weapons, firearms or [offensive] signs,” he said adding that the officers would come equipped with anti-riot gear and tactical vehicles.

The FPI is notorious for its use of violence and the threat of violence, particularly in raiding nightclubs, bars and shops selling alcohol. It also has a habit of disrupting meetings and public discussions on subjects like LGBT rights and religious freedom.

The FPI’s Jakarta chapter says that some 1,000 of its members will participate in the demonstration, but police estimate there will only be around half that.

FPI Jakarta chief Salim Bin Umar Alatas told the Jakarta Globe last week that his group would deploy thousands of protesters in opposition to Basuki’s swearing-in.

“He is not a Muslim and he is too arrogant. His words are rude and he calls people names. It’s inappropriate for a public official to act that way,” Salim said adding that his group would not back down until its demands were met.

Basuki said he is unfazed by the demonstration. “What is my preparation? Work as usual,” he said on Tuesday adding that he was also refraining from asking for additional security.

“This is not [my] first demonstration. Such protests happen every day in front of City Hall,” Basuki continued. “Take a look at my face! Does it look like I’m threatened [by the FPI]?”

Earlier, Basuki said he was accustomed to criticism of himself based on ethnicity and religion, but called on the FPI not to raise such issues during their protest.

“There is a law [that regulates those issues]. If they talk or threaten [others] on the basis of religion and race, they could be criminally charged. Let’s just wait for it. If there is any evidence of them committing any offenses [of that variety], we will have no mercy,” he said.

Basuki said the FPI’s rejection was baseless, and that under the law he had every right to be sworn in as governor.



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