Farouk Arnaz – Sick of what they see as a hands-off approach to policing Indonesia's hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), members of the Indonesia Without FPI Movement issued a stern warning to the National Police on Thursday: crack down on FPI violence or face legal action.
"We will give you two weeks, starting today, to reform the police department," spokesman Dhyta Caturani, of the Indonesia Without FPI Movement, said on Thursday. "If after two weeks the police still allow the FPI to use violence and intimidation in the name of religion, we will file a lawsuit."
The police have historically ignored acts of violence and intimidation committed by the Islamist organization, Dhyta said, including a number of recent high-profile incidents.
The FPI announced on Wednesday plans to mass at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to stop Lady Gaga from performing her scheduled June 3 concert in Jakarta.
Last week, police shut down a reading in South Jakarta by Irshad Manji, author of the book "Allah, Liberty and Love: The Courage to Reconcile Faith and Freedom" after more than a hundred protestors – led by the FPI – gathered outside the Salihara cultural center.
In January, the group threw stones at the Home Affairs Ministry in January after ministry officials announced changes to regional bylaws on the sale of alcohol.
The FPI's use of violence and intimidation is against Indonesia's constitution, Dhyta said. But National Police spokesman Ins. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution denied allegations that the police are afraid of the FPI.
"When facing a social problem, especially if it is related to religious harmony or mass protests, we work with the appropriate ministry," Saud said. "If it is about religious freedom, we support the Religious Affairs Ministry. If it is about protests, we support the Home Affairs Ministry. But if it is against the law, we start the legal process."
Saud explained that the police use persuasive dialogue when addressing the FPI during protests. And if the protest gets out of hand, the National Police often arrest the smaller group – usually the focus of the FPI's fury – to prevent a large problem, he added.
"It doesn't mean we lose against the larger group," he said, referring to the FPI. "We realize that someone wants us to stand against the FPI. But we don't want to do it because that would not solve the problem."