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Ministry building vandals are not FPI members: Police

Source
Jakarta Globe - January 20, 2012

Bayu Marhaenjati – Three people who were questioned by police for stoning the Home Affairs Ministry building last week are not Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) members, police said on Friday.

"The demonstration coordinator [of the FPI] said that the three witnesses are not its [FPI] members because they don't have membership cards," Rikwanto, Jakarta police spokesman, said on Friday. "The three witnesses also confirmed it, admitting that they are only supporters."

The three people were questioned by the police following the attack on the ministry building on Jan. 12, 2012. They were among FPI members and Islamic People's Forum (FUI) members who were demonstrating against the ministry's plan to revise the alcoholic sales bylaw.

In the middle of the demonstration, some of the protesters threw stones at the ministry building destroying several windows.

Although it has been more than a week, police have not named any suspects in the vandalism case. "We will keep on analyzing the case, on who might be involved in the destruction," Rikwanto said. "The case is still developing, it has not been stopped."

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