Farouk Arnaz & Shesar Andriawan – Thousands of members of the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front paraded through the streets of Jakarta on Sunday to commemorate the group's 15th anniversary.

Sporting their trademark all-white attire, members of the group, known as the FPI, kicked off the celebration by riding in vehicle convoys through the West Jakarta neighborhoods of Slipi and Petamburan.

Munarman, a spokesman for the group, said around 5,000 people had been expected to participate in the day-long celebration, which began at 10 a.m. on Sunday.

"This is how the FPI celebrates every anniversary," he said. "God willing, we will conduct the rally in an orderly fashion. There is nothing to be worried about."

He also added that those who joined the Sunday event were members from all over Indonesia.

The group marched from its headquarters in West Jakarta through Central and East Jakarta.

Speaking at the beginning of the gathering, FPI chief Habib Rizieq Syihab urged members to behave themselves properly during the rally and not to allow themselves to be provoked by outsiders.

National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo earlier called on the FPI to celebrate its anniversary peacefully. "[It] must not disturb other people," he said on Friday. "Such things [convoys] are allowed, as long as they do not disturb the public."

Hundreds of police officers were deployed to maintain order and direct traffic away from the rally throughout the day. "For security, there will be [officers] from the National Police, the Regional Police as well as the District Police," Timur said.

In its 15 years of existence, the FPI has received condemnation from institutions and political figures for its often violent attacks against those deemed by them to be acting contrary to Islamic ideology.

In June 2008, the group was censured for its attack on members of the National Alliance for Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB) who were holding a rally at the National Monument in Jakarta.

Members of the FPI stormed into the crowd and brutally attacked campaigners. Dozens were injured during that incident. The group has launched similar attacks against nightclubs, bars and other sellers of alcoholic beverages, especially during the month of Ramadan.

Last month, the organization was responsible for at least two incidents of violence during vigilante raids.

About 50 FPI supporters damaged businesses in the Kendal district in Central Java during a raid on an alleged brothel, resulting in a riot as local residents fought back and forced the group to leave.

A woman was killed as a car carrying FPI members fleeing the scene crashed into the motorbike she was riding with her husband.

In another raid in Makassar, South Sulawesi, members of the group were caught on camera vandalizing a shop said to be serving alcoholic beverages. The video later went viral on the Internet, attracting thousands of viewers from across the nation.

Calls for disbandment The series of raids have caught the attention of legislators in the House of Representatives who have demanded the central government disband the organization.

"They disturb the public order, conduct vigilantism, and use violent means to achieve their goals," said Eva Kusuma Sundari, a legislator from the House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs.

"I am saddened that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, despite having been mocked by the FPI, still does nothing about them," the lawmaker of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said.

Rizieq had called the president a "mere loser" and "a disgrace" in response to his speech which condemned the group's violent Ramadan raids.

Eva deplored the government's hesitation in taking action against the FPI, especially following the ratification of the new mass organization law. "When the public is at risk, the government has to take a stance in the name of the people to maintain their sense of security," she said.

Agus Purnomo, head of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) central executive, also demanded that the individuals involved in sparking public violence be brought to justice. "Individuals from mass organizations who have conducted acts of violence should be captured and put to trial," he said.

As Ramadan drew to a close, the group has renewed its focus on other issues. During the anniversary celebration on Sunday, Rizieq called on the government to disband the National Police's antiterrorism force, Densus 88.

"Disband Densus. We are saying this because they have often captured, shot and killed the wrong individuals. They don't even act according to Indonesian law. We don't need violent cowboys who kill and shoot people," Rizieq said, as quoted by Merdeka.com.

He also called for members of antiterrorism force to be tried internationally for what he considered to be human rights abuses.

"If Densus 88 are not disbanded, then don't blame the Islamic community for thinking of them as a common enemy. Don't blame the Islamic community if in the future, weapons are raised against Densus. We call for the immediate decision to disband Densus 88," he said.

Miss World

In addition to these demands, Rizieq also strongly criticized the Miss World beauty contest, which Indonesia will be hosting in Bali next month, and threatened to forcefully put a stop to the international event.

"We are obliged to disrupt the Miss World event if the government insists [on issuing a permit]," Rizieq said on Sunday.

Rizieq cited the Suharto era in which Indonesia remained free from such events.

"Under Suharto, when it was suggested that the winner of the [Indonesian beauty pageant] Puteri Indonesia be sent to the Miss World event, Suharto simply said that [such event] was not part of our culture.

"It took just one sentence, 'that it is not our culture,' and [we] immediately stopped. No Miss Indonesia was ever sent to the Miss Universe or Miss World event. I am ready to be arrested for disrupting Miss World," he said.

Rizieq called on the president to be as strict as the government had been during Suharto's reign and emphasized that the group would take any legal means necessary to stop the Miss World event from taking place.

"If it still continues, then we will hold the government responsible. The government should not grant permits for these kind of beauty contests. This is against local wisdom, against local culture and especially against the Muslim community and Islamic law.

"Everyone must be prepared to disrupt Miss World. Don't let Bali become an immoral island because of that event," Rizieq said, followed by a chorus of "Astagfirullah, Allahu Akbar" by other members of the organization.

Earlier this month, Said Aqil Siradj, chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama, one of the biggest Islamic organizations in the country, spoke in support of the FPI's disbandment.

Said said disbandment of the FPI had long been proposed to Yudhoyono and the Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs, Djoko Suyanto, because of the damage the group's actions have caused to the Islamic community. "Islam is against violence and against radicalism," he said on August 7.

Earlier, Cholil Ridwan, chairman of the country's far-right religious authority, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), voiced his support for the FPI leader as a possible candidate in next year's elections, saying Rizieq would be supported by every Muslim in Indonesia if he ran for president.