Police Supports Komnas HAM Forming Team Probing FPI Members' Shooting

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Police welcomed National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) establishing a team to investigate fatal shooting of six Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) members joining an escort of FPI leader Habib Rizieq Shihab's motorcade, early Monday.

"Well, it is okay. That is a form of external monitoring activities," National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Awi Setiyono was quoted as saying by ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The police will assist in furnishing data and information to the human rights commission to enable it to uncover the fatal shooting case, Setiyono stated.

The National Police has upheld the principle of transparency while coordinating with Komnas HAM to uncover several cases, he remarked, adding that the police's internal investigation team had also been working on uncovering truths about this case.

The Komnas HAM has set up a team to comprehensively evaluate information developing in the public and acquire facts from parties over the fatal shooting that killed six FPI members.

Choirul Anam, Komnas HAM commissioner for monitoring and investigation, noted in a written statement released on Monday, December 7, 2020, that the rights body had received several explanations from the FPI and was conducting an in-depth study on them.

"To strengthen efforts to facilitate the unveiling of facts pertaining to the incident, we are optimistic of all parties being cooperative and transparent. We also pin such hopes on the police," he noted.

Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief Inspector General Fadil Imran had declared on Monday that on-duty police investigation officers had shot dead six guards of FPI leader Shihab for attacking them.

The incident took place on Monday at 00:30 a.m. local time on the Jakarta-Cikampek KM 50 Toll Road, Imran revealed.

The incident occurred when officers were probing information on a likely mobilization of masses for which Shihab will be grilled by the Jakarta Police.

The Jakarta Police summoned Shihab for allegedly violating COVID-19 health protocols during his daughter's wedding that coincided with the maulid (the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad commemoration), thereby leading to crowding.

"When officers of the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police followed vehicles suspected of carrying MRS (Muhammad Rizieq Shihab) followers, the officers' vehicle was intercepted and then attacked with firearms and sharp weapons," Imran noted.

The Jakarta Police chief confirmed that of the total 10 attackers, six were neutralized, while four fled.

Imran confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported from the police side, though their vehicle had incurred damage after the shooting and collision by the attackers' vehicle and was shot at.

However, the FPI denied claims of its members having attacked police officers on grounds that they were unarmed.

"FPI members do not have firearms. A shootout is impossible," Munarman, the general secretary of FPI, stated at a press conference.

Munarman affirmed that the fatal shooting was an extrajudicial killing. Hence, he urged to uncover the truth behind incident by forming an independent fact-finding team that involved Komnas HAM.

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ANTARA