Indonesian former president KH Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid promised to disband the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) if the government had no courage to soon disband it.
Gus Dur made the remark at a press conference in the Jakarta's Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) headquarters on Thursday (5/6).<>
"If the government does not want to disband the FPI, we ourselves will do it. The government is not the only party that can take action," Gus Dur said.
The former General Chairman of the PBNU also expressed his gratefulness to president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) for the arrest of the FPI chief Habib Riziq Shihab.
"I will be more grateful if the FPI is disbanded," Gus Dur said, adding that when he was in power, he focused more on how to maintain the unitary and integrity of the nation.
Gus Dur said he had so far called for the disbandment of FPI because the organization had often violated regulations and even the Constitution.
Present also at the occasion were Rev Nugroho Tjahjadi, Romo (Father) Beny Susetyo, The Wahid Institute Director Ahmad Suaedy, and Demos (Center for Democracy and Human Rights Studies) Director Asmara Nababan.
Meanwhile, Asmara Nababan welcomed the arrest of the FPI activists, although it was a bit late.
Nababan hoped the police would do more, by not only arresting FPI members but also disbanding the hardline group.
"It`s time for the police to demonstrate that they do not tolerate violence, and are professionals in enforcing the law," he said.
In the meantime, Romo Beny Susetyo said now was the time for the Indonesian government to show the international world that Indonesia respected human rights, upheld the Constitution, and did not bow to violence.
Habib Riziq and six FPI members were named suspects and arrested by the Jakarta Police for Sunday`s incident at the National Monument (Monas) in central Jakarta.
FPI members attacked activists of the National Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Faith (AKKBB), a supporter of Ahmadiyah which Muslims consider to be a deviant sect. (nam)
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