Terrorist Suspects Allegedly Linked to FPI: Ex-Official: This is Media Operation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former official of restricted organization Islamic Defender Front (FPI), Munarman, suspected that there are parties deliberately framing FPI by linking it to the arrest of terrorist suspects in Condet. The framing, he added, aimed at labeling the organization founded by Rizieq Shihab as a terrorist group.

“This is a large-scale and systematic media operation to raise public opinion in order to frame, stigmatize, and label me and FPI as terrorists,” Munarman said in a video received by Tempo on Tuesday, March 30, 2021.

Munarman made the statement after the police arrested suspected terrorists in Condet, East Jakarta on Monday.

He accused that the purpose of the framing was so that the public would tolerate all acts of killing of FPI members. “So if I am shot dead on the street or raided, people will say 'it is okay, he is a terrorist.' That’s the goal of this media operation,” said the attorney of Rizieq Shihab.

During a press release on Monday, March 30, Jakarta Metro Police presented pieces of evidence in the arrest of terrorist suspects in Condet and Bekasi, including several swords, books, and FPI attributes. One of the books is titled "FPI Amar Ma'ruf Nahi Munkar".

The police are still investigating the evidence and affiliation between the FPI and the terrorist suspects. Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen. Mohammad Fadil Imran refused to make further speculations concerning the possible affiliation.

Also Read: FPI Accused of Supporting JAD, ISIS; Ex Sec-Gen Munarman Clarifies

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH