Ezra Sihite – A member of House Commission III that oversees legal and human rights affairs, demanded on Monday that the National Police chief admit being powerless when dealing with intolerant groups, including the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).

"The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) sent a note to the National Police chief about his first year of leadership because intolerant groups are escalating with worsening violence," Eva Kusuma Sundari, a lawmaker from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, said on Monday.

"After a year of his [Timur Pradopo] leadership, the intolerant groups are getting worse. Meanwhile, during his fit and proper test, he answered my question that he would prioritize legal enforcement as a norm, and whoever committed a crime would be jailed."

According to Eva, there were several recent incidents when police failed to prevent or resolve clashes.

The first case was a clash between the FPI and a group in Solo, Central Java. Police allegedly did not act when people were carrying weapons.

The second incident happened in Jakarta when South Jakarta police and the FPI disbanded a discussion by Canadian feminist Irshad Manji in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.

Another incident was a conflict between locals and church members of HKBP Filadelfia, Bekasi. Tantowi Anwari, an activist from the Journalists Union for Diversity (Sejuk), was beaten at the conflict allegedly by FPI members.

"The attackers were not touched and victims were sacrificed, showing the bad attitude of the police," Eva said. "This is against the law and it triggers dangerous and long conflicts."

She said police did not do anything when intolerant groups "hijacked" police authority, leaving the impression that police were afraid of the groups. "So, in the upcoming working meeting with police in two weeks, we will put this issue as the main agenda to be discussed," Eva said.