Hans David Tampubolon, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police remain undecided on whether to take coercive measures against mass organization Forum Betawi Rempug (FBR) after a recent clash involving the latter severely injured a police officer.

West Jakarta Police operational unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Suparmin sustained a severe injury to his nose after trying to settle a violent conflict involving FBR and a group of men from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) at Tubagus Angke, West Jakarta, on Sunday. West Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Yazid Fanani said on Monday that Suparmin would require surgery.

Suparmin was injured after he was struck in the nose with a solid object thrown by one of the culprits involved in the conflict. He was taken to Sumber Waras hospital in West Jakarta.

Jakarta Police public relations head Sr. Comr. Baharudin Djafar told The Jakarta Post that, for the time being, the police would only focus on Suparmin's recovery. "Firm measures [on mass organizations] would depend on the situation," he said.

Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) coordinator Usman Hamid told the Post that it was time for the police to take a firmer stance against violent mass organizations.

"The police have been tolerating such mass organizations because they have political ties. I suggest the police halt that kind of relationship altogether," Usman said. "By erasing that relationship, the police can take stricter measures on mass organizations, starting from bringing its members to justice, including the leaders," he added.

Usman said that the police could not disband mass organizations because it would violate their basic right to organize.

In August last year, then National Police chief Gen. (ret.) Bambang Hendarso Danuri told the House of Representatives that there were 107 incidents of violence involving mass organizations between 2007 and 2010.

Most of the incidents were reportedly perpetrated by the hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI), the FBR and the Betawi Youth Front.