Anita Rachman – The anti-Islamic Defenders Front rally may have broken up early, but organizers say they have no intention of staying silent.
Tunggal Pawestri, a spokesman with the Movement for an FPI-Free Indonesia, told the Jakarta Globe that the group was already brainstorming ways to stage an even bigger gathering in the near future.
Eyewitness reports put the number of attendees at Tuesday's rally between 200 and 300. The protest at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle was called to an early halt, however, after police warned people that members of the hardline group, known as the FPI, were on the way.
One organizer claimed that police had said to her: "If something happens [after the FPI comes], that's not our responsibility."
Protester Dimas Hary said he was not disappointed over the fact that the speeches ended after only 15 minutes. Instead, he criticized police for refusing to give any guarantee of safety once rumors of the FPI's arrival began to spread.
"The one thing that doesn't disappoint me is my friends' big hearts in staying here longer," he said. Dimas said he hoped the group would hold another, better-attended rally soon.
Ririn Sefani, another rally organizer, said that aside from protests, the group was also exploring legal avenues in opposing the FPI.
She said plans were underway to speak to the Ministry of Home Affairs and other government departments. "And we are actually open to dialogues," she added.
Ririn defended the decision to end the rally early, citing the nonviolent nature of the organization. "I think our action is polite. It's a peaceful really. We even sent our press release to the FPI as well."
Monica Halim, 21, told the Globe that she would continue to support the movement due to her continued disgust with the FPI's tactics, which include raids on businesses during the holy month of Ramadan.
"I am a Catholic, but I know that they [FPI] do not only bother non-Muslims, they also bother Muslims," she said. "I came here because I agreed with the movement, an FPI-free Indonesia."