Indonesian Chief of Staff Baffled by Rizieq Shihab's Call for Reconciliation
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13 November 2020 11:35 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko on Thursday said he is baffled by the call for reconciliation expressed by Rizieq Shihab, as Moeldoko believes the government had no issues with the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader.
Rizieq has just returned to Indonesia after proclaiming self-exile in Saudi Arabia for slightly over three years, leaving at least two legal charges behind. The charges had eventually been dropped by police as he was still overseas.
“What needs to be reconciled? Since the very beginning he left [Indonesia] on his own will, and now has returned home,” said Moeldoko on Thursday, November 12.
Moeldoko - a former TNI commander - believes that common-understanding about the responsibility of the government and Rizieq Shihab himself is needed in the future.
“The country protects everyone. And about the term reconciliation, what’s there to be reconciled? We are in a position where there are no problems between us,” said Moeldoko.
The Chief of Staff’s comment is in response to Rizieq’s previous call for reconciliation and to put an end to what he claims are criminalization against ulema and his activists.
Read: Moeldoko Responds to Rizieq Shihab's Request for Reconciliation
DEWI NURITA
