TEMPO.CO, Lamongan - Lamongan Police have helped facilitate peace talks between residents of Brondong and Paciran sub-districts and members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) to settle the recent brawl between both parties in the region.
The peace treaty—involving local police officials, wives of FPI members and residents—took place at the office of Brondong sub-district chief, some 40 kilometers southwest of Lamongan.
Lamongan Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Solekan, East Java Mobile Brigade Sub-Detachment III commander Adj. Comr. Edy Suyono, Brondong sub-district chief Saidi, and a number of officials of Lamongan regency administration were present. Ustadz Dipo Yuwono, the mentor of Pondok Pesantren Al Ikhlas, led the residents’ envoy.
Among the chief contents of the treaty were residents and the FPI agreed to maintain security in the area and avoid taking the law into their own hands, causing anarchy, violent skirmishes, and to inform the police on public disputes.
“So we will move against anyone who instigates a riot,” Solekan said in a text message on Thursday, August 15, 2013.
Rosyid, a partisan of Lamongan FPI, said the law process of the riot must resume despite the peace treaty and those responsible should not go unpunished. “Uphold the truth, punish the wrongdoers,” he told Tempo on Thursday, August 15, 2013.
Rosyid said he was preparing a team of attorneys—most likely from the Muslim Lawyers Team (TPM) of East Java—to provide legal aid for the 42 FPI members currently detained at the East Java Police headquarters. “We are awaiting the powers of attorney,” he said.
The police have withdrawn half of the 200 Mobile Brigade personnel previously stationed in both sub-districts.
SUJATMIKO