Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – The Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), a hard-line group notorious for violence and intimidation, has reported Jakarta's Acting Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama to police for "defamation, libel and unpleasant acts" towards them.
Sugito, a representative from the group, announced the action to reporters at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Wednesday. He said the FPI had brought evidence to support their claim, namely statements the politician had made about the group that were published and broadcast in the media.
"We have CD of his statement on televised news," Sugito said. "He [Basuki] said arrogantly that he would disband the FPI and he would send a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights."
Sugito went on to say that Basuki's comments that the FPI was not worthy of existing and that the group had violated Indonesia's Constitution "really offended" the Islamic organization.
Basuki sent a letter to the Justice Ministry on Monday requesting the central government disband the FPI. The acting governor's request came after the hard-line group and other organizations threatened to occupy Jakarta City Hall and foil his inauguration as governor of the capital.
The FPI objects to Basuki, a Christian and Indonesian of Chinese decent, becoming governor and has called him an "enemy of Islam" and an infidel. The group has repeatedly said that Jakarta's leader should be from the majority religious group.