TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Universitas Indonesia Sociologist Thamrin Tamagola was splashed with a glass of water by Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) Spokesman Munarman, during a dialog in Apa Kabar Indonesia Pagi program of TvOne. Tamagola said he was actually strengthening Munarman's opinion when he was splashed.
The sociologist explained he was invited together with Munarman to speak on today, June 28. They discussed about the police's response towards communal organizations which conduct sweeping activity during Ramadan. Chief of Public Information Bureau of Indonesian Police Headquarters, General Boy Rafli Amar, also spoke in the discussion by phone.
According to Tamagola, Munarman said his organization conducted sweeping as the police did not. He believed the state is not present to enforce either state laws or religious laws.
Tamagola who was authorized to comment, strengthened Munarman’s opinion about the state's absence. He believed the state should improve protection to the society now that the New York-based Appeal of Conscience Foundation had awarded the World Statesman Award to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Munarman disapproved the opinion, and instead splashed a glass of water to Tamagola, who remained silent. "I didn’t react neither did I clean it with my handkerchief. I let him," explained the sociologist.
NUR ALFIYAH