Ezra Sihite & Arientha Primanita – In the wake of calls to disband the Islamic Defenders Front, a lawmaker on Tuesday called for a review of all mass organizations that disrupt the public.

"The evaluation should not be limited to the FPI," said lawmaker Abdul Malik Haramain, referring to the hard-line organization. Haramain is the chairman of the House of Representatives special committee deliberating amendments to the 1985 Law on Mass Organizations.

After a group of Dayak tribesmen rejected FPI plans to open a branch in Kalimantan on Saturday, a group of Jakartans formed an "FPI-Free Indonesia" movement and organized a protest on Tuesday.

Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi also said he is considering disbanding the FPI for violent acts, which allegedly include vandalizing an office of his ministry.

But Haramain, from the Islam-based National Awakening Party (PKB), said it is not easy to disband an organization. "The draft revisions on the Mass Organizations Law suggests that freezing or disbanding organizations can only be done based on a court ruling," he said.

Haramain said that the Home Affairs Ministry can decide whether to slap a sanction on an organizations, and that it can also ask the court to disband it. "That's how the mechanism works; the Home Affairs Ministry acts as the prosecutor," he said. "The idea is to evaluate first and not immediately disband it."

Gamawan said he had talked to legislators about the plan to revise the 1985 law and hoped they would cut the lengthy process to disband organizations.

"The process to freeze or disband an anarchic mass organization should be shortened," he said. "Right now the process is too lengthy, as it starts with a soft warning and [moves to a] strong warning, then a freeze on the organization's activities and finally disbandment. "But it doesn't stop there because they can still appeal to the Supreme Court," he added.

Mass organizations must register with the government, but the system is highly fragmented. Most register with the Home Affairs Ministry, while others register with the ministries for justice and human rights, religious affairs and foreign affairs. Still others are unregistered. "It's very messy," Gamawan said. "So with the amendment to the law, we hope to simplify and tighten up the procedures."

He said the FPI has engaged in violent acts at least twice, at the National Monument and at the Home Affairs Ministry. "We are currently reviewing the acts and will take action once we find strong supporting evidence," he said. He added that the ministry reported the attack on its office to the Jakarta Police.

"I have sent the video and have formally filed a report," he said. "Now it's in the hands of the police to follow up, because the people involved in it [the attack] can be seen clearly in the video, like who broke the windows, who climbed the gates and more."

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said no suspects had been named yet and no witnesses from the FPI have been summoned for questioning.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday called on mass organizations to adhere to the law. "Organizations in Indonesia are allowed to operate on the basis of freedom of speech and freedom of action," he said."Any organization that violates the laws must face due legal process, with no exceptions."

[Additional reporting from Suara Pembaruan & Antara.]