Nadya Natahadibrata and Suherdjoko, Jakarta/Semarang – The hard-line Islam Defenders Front (FPI) could be subject to sanctions stipulated in the 2013 Mass Organization Law (Ormas), following the clash between its members and residents of Sukorejo, Kendal, Central Java, on Thursday.
As previously reported, a riot broke out in Sukorejo when residents tried to block members of the FPI Temanggung branch who were attempting to conduct a sweep in the village's red light district on account of Ramadhan. One resident was killed, while three others were injured during the clash.
Bachtiar, the Home Ministry's mass organization subdirectorate head, said the newly enacted Ormas Law stated any mass organizations, including the FPI, that had been proven to have repeatedly created social unrest, could be dissolved.
"Any FPI member proven to have triggered the riot or caused the death of one of the residents in Kendal could be subject to criminal charges," Bahtiar said.
"Meanwhile, the organization, as stipulated in Article 61 of the law, could be subject to sanctions imposed in stages, comprising three warnings, temporary disbandment and permanent disbandment," he told The Jakarta Post over the phone on Friday.
However, he said the sanctions could only happen after a long procedure of verification. "The regional administration should first provide guidance to ensure the organization avoids similar activities in the future before imposing sanctions," he said.
"The government has an obligation to guarantee the freedom of assembly and association. The government can't go back to authoritarianism and easily decide to disband an organization without strong grounds," he said.
According to Bachtiar, the bill stipulated that if any persuasive measures by the regional administration failed, the organization could be imposed with warnings.
"Following the third warning, should the organization still take part in activities deemed to be causing social unrest, it can temporarily be frozen, before finally being dissolved," Bachtiar said.
Meanwhile, Kendal Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Asep Jenal Ahmadi said on Friday that the police had detained three FPI members, including the driver of an Avanza car who ran over residents, killing one and injuring three others, during the riot. They have all been named suspects, Antara news agency reported.
The car reportedly crashed into the residents, killing Tri Muniarti, 42, and injuring three others, including Tri's husband.
Tri was dead upon arrival at Ngesti Waluyo Hospital in Parakan, Temanggung, as a result of a head injury. The three other residents reportedly sustained fractures and bruises.
The driver, who has been named a suspect, was identified as Soni Haryono, 38. The two other FPI members, Satrio Yuono, 22, and Agung Wicaksono, were detained for carrying sharp weapons during the sweep.
"We evacuated 28 FPI members using two minibuses last night, except for the three members we detained," Asep said, citing that the police needed further information from the three members.
The latest incident involving the FPI members has renewed calls for its disbandment from politicians as well as netizens, who have long complained about the group's antics, such as conducting raids on nightclubs during Ramadhan.
Eva Kusuma Sundari of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said she supported the calls to disband the FPI. "I hope the Mass Organization Law can be upheld," she said.
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Indra, however, said the FPI could not be charged with the newly passed law because the riot had not been instructed by the organization.
"The law can only be imposed on the organization, when in fact the riot in Sukorejo was solely the members' personal responsibility," Indra said.
Pro-democracy activists and several mass organizations have criticized the law for being draconian and called for its repeal.
But many Indonesians, mostly those who are more liberal-minded and living in urban areas, are hoping the law can bring an end to the FPI, which they deem a threat to democracy and the state ideology of Pancasila.