Arientha Primanita & Camelia Pasandaran – The government signaled on Thursday that it may finally act against the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front after a mob of its members stoned the Home Affairs Ministry in a shocking attack earlier in the day.
Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said the ministry would "evaluate" both the group known as the FPI and the fringe Islamic People's Forum (FUI), which has been vocal in the campaign against the GKI Yasmin church in Bogor, today. "If necessary, we will freeze them," he said.
The Constitution may respect the right of these groups to exist, he said, but they need to obey the law. "We have decided to take two courses of action," he said.
"First, we have already asked law enforcement to investigate the case and charge those responsible for the attack. Second, we're going to evaluate the organizations, which might lead to freezing them over anarchic acts."
Gamawan did not offer details on possible actions against the groups, if they would be permanently outlawed or their activities only temporarily halted.
The FPI has long waged what it refers to as a moral crusade, often in direct violation of laws and regulations. Few of its members have ever been charges for their often violent tactics, and those who have received light sentences.
Misbakhul Anam, the secretary of the FPI's legislative council, was quick to apologize for the actions of the group's members. "We are officially apologizing and hopefully our good relations with the Home Affairs Ministry will not be disturbed by the incident," he said.
He said the organization had attempted to control its members, and blamed the whole thing on youthful exuberance. "They are young with high emotions and short fuses," he said. But he also said the incident would not have happened had the minister simply come out to meet with the demonstrators.
Diah Anggraini, the ministry's secretary general, said that at the time of the rally Gamawan was attending a hearing at the House of Representatives to discuss special autonomy in Aceh. Diah added that the FPI and the FUI would have to face the legal ramifications of their members' actions.
The attack happened as hundreds of FPI and FUI members rallied in front of the ministry to protest its decision to alter several regional bylaws concerning the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
Some of the protesters began pelting the ministry with stones, breaking several windows.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Baharuddin Djafar said the attack had been reported to the police, who were investigating.
FUI secretary general M uhammad Al Khaththath called on Gamawan "to repent to God and apologize to all the people, resign and go home to West Sumatra." FPI member Subhan Burhanuddin said Gamawan's actions were "hurting Muslims because alcohol [consumption] is prohibited by Allah."
Ministry spokesman Reydonnyzar Moenek said the ministry had not revoked any regional bylaws but rather had asked the regions to revise them so they would be in line with higher laws and regulations.
He added that since 2000, the ministry had evaluated 9,000 regional bylaws and found that 351 had the potential to be problematic. Bylaws regarding regional taxes and route permits for public transportation, as well as the nine dealing with alcohol, were among them.