Jakarta – People's Consultative Assembly chairman Taufiq Kiemas said that hard-line group the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) must respect the Dayak community's local wisdom in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan.

Taufiq argued that the local community were unhappy with the presence of the FPI. "Every place has its own local wisdom. Everyone must respect that," Taufik said as quoted by tempo.co on Sunday.

The chief patron of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) also added that the FPI should educate themselves about respecting local wisdom.

Taufiq was asked to comment on Central Kalimantan residents' rejection of four FPI senior leaders in Palangkaraya on Saturday. Around 800 protesters, mostly from the Dayak tribe, reportedly staged a rally at Tjilik Riwut Airport to block the FPI leaders' arrival in Palangkaraya.

While FPI leaders were scheduled to inaugurate the organization's provincial branch in the city, the protesters said that they were not welcome and demanded they leave the city immediately. The FPI is notorious for using violence against minority groups in the name of Islam. (asa)