Jakarta – More than a thousand protesters swarmed the State Palace and the Jakarta Police headquarters in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, demanding the release of Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), and Munarman, leader of Islam Troop Command (KLI).

The protesters, who were members of the FPI, the Islam Community Forum (FUI), Muslim organizations and Islamic boarding schools in the city and surrounding areas also demanded President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ban minority Islamic sect Ahmadiyah and asked police to arrest a man who was holding a gun during the National Monument attack, which happened three weeks ago.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana told 17 leaders of the protest the police had named the unidentified man a fugitive and were looking for him. "Residents can bring him to the police or give us information about his whereabouts if they happen to find him," he said. He warned protesters not to hurt him should they find him.

The FPI earlier reported to police the man they accused of being a provocateur from the National Alliance of Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB) and submitted his photograph to them.

Although the protest leaders looked satisfied after hearing of the gunman, they still demanded the police release Rizieq, FPI members and Munarman. They also insisted on meeting the Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Adang Firman. They were upset when the chief refused to meet them.

"The police did not treat us Muslims fairly. They did not arrest the members of AKKBB like they arrested the FPI members and their leader," M. Al Khaththa, general secretary of FUI said to Ketut.

Jl. Sudirman, where it heads to Blok M in front of the police headquarters, was jammed with protesters and their vehicles, forcing the police to redirect the traffic to other thoroughfares, like Jl. Casablanca and Jl. HR Rasuna Said in South Jakarta. The congestion on Jl. Sudirman caused traffic jams in other busy main thoroughfares in the city.

In the demonstration in front of the State Palace, state spokesman Andi Mallarangeng was available to meet the protest leaders. But the protesters did not want to meet him, saying they wanted to meet the President instead.

"We met him last week. He is not the person who can respond to our demands. The President should give us his attention, considering the number of people who are staging the demonstration," Ali Hasan, one of the leaders said. (ind)