Anti-, Pro-Rizieq Groups Go Face to Face during Questioning
12 January 2017 12:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Bandung - Islamic Defender Front leader Rizieq Shihab on Thursday, January 12, 2017, answered West Java Police’s summons to be interrogated on his role in an alleged state ideology Pancasila insult.
In the meantime, two mass groups gathered outside the West Java Police headquarter in Bandung. One group consists of Rizieq’s supporters, mostly FPI members, while the other was an anti-Rizieq group dominated by members of the Indonesia General Society Movement (GMBI), the Buah Batu Corps, and the People’s Mandate Communication Network (Jangkar).
The number of participants of the two groups was equal. Both groups were separated by Police personnel. The tension escalated for a while when both groups conduct orations at the same time.
The GMBI urged the West Java Police to take assertive actions against Rizieq based on reports filed with the police. Meanwhile, FPI members marched on the street to give moral supports for Rizieq during his questioning at the West Java Police headquarter.
More than 800 police personnel were deployed to secure the two opposing groups. Police also temporary closed Jalan Soekarno-Hatta in front of the West Java Police Headquarter.
Rizieq is currently undergoing a questioning at the West Java Police Headquarter in Bandung. He arrived at the venue at around 9 a.m.
The FPI leader was reported by Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of former President Soekarno, for allegedly insulting the state ideology. One of the evidences presented to police is a video footage containing Rizieq’s sermon in front of FPI members.
IQBAL T. LAZUARDI S