Wiranto Hesitant to Comment on Rizieq Syihab in Meeting with TNI

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto stated the meeting with Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police deputy chief Syafruddin on February 19, was not for discussing Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Syihab who will return to Indonesia.

“We talked about nothing specific, but anything such as regional election preparation, national security, political stability,” said Wiranto after the 2018 regional election coordination meeting at Grand Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta, Tuesday, February 20.

Read: Police Denies Discussing Return of Rizieq Shihab

Wiranto hesitant to comment about the upcoming arrival of Rizieq Shihab. The minister added that he routinely held a meeting with officials regarding law and national security every week at his office to strengthen the coordination between TNI and the National Police. “Both (institutions) work together and cannot be separated.”

Previously, Rizieq Shihab plans to return to Indonesia by Saudi Arabian Airlines 816 Boeing 777-300 and will be arrived on February 21, around 9 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. The 212 Alumni presidium chairman Slamet Maarif confirmed the ticket's validity.

The Directorate General of Immigration stated will send Rizieq Shihab to the police at his arrival. “He (Rizieq Syihab) was on the police wanted list, so the immigration will detect him and hand him over to the police investigation,” said Agung Sampurno, the head of general public relations for the directorate.

Adam Prireza