Front Pembela Islam Raids

May 23rd, 2006, in News, by Patung

News on a recent mini epidemic of raids by the Islamic Defenders Front, FPI, Front Pembela Islam.

On the 20th of May in the town of Pamekasan, in Madura, East Java, one of the Front’s few strong areas in that province, members conducted raids on a number of night spots and some roadside stalls which were thought to be selling alcohol. One hotel was also targeted and the owner of the establishment was instructed not to allow the sale of liquor and drugs on his premises.

Speeches followed in which an unnamed FPI man implored the residents of Pamekasan to help the Front stamp out sinful activities in the city. The police response to the events is unknown.

Also on the 20th, in Bandung, West Java, dozens of Front loyalists went to the Jalan Cikutra area in three pick-ups and dozens of motorbikes. They attacked one store that sold alcohol and confiscated about 200 bottles. After this success they moved towards downtown Bandung and visited a number of night spots in further search of the demon drink. They were accompanied by public order officials and police but no action was taken as the police were reported to have been overwhelmed by the situation.

However later the police attempted to put a stop to the actions by blocking off roads likely to be used by the convoy of FPI vehicles. Antara reports that police asked owners of targeted night spots to close their doors while the ’sweeping’ was going on in order to avoid trouble.

While in the Kresek area of Bekasi, West Java, dozens of roadside stalls, or warungs, were damaged during an FPI raid on 21st May. 60 Front men took part in the attack. Afterwards police detained 21 of them.

Their leader is charged with violating law 160 (provoking others to damage property) and 170 (damaging property). His men are charged under law 170.
(Pimpinannya kami jerat pasal 160 KUHP dan 170 KUHP, memprovokator dan melakukan perusakan, sedangkan anak buahnya dijerat pasal 170.)

said Chairul Anwar of the police on the 22nd.

In this action the FPI men were reported to have just returned from an anti-pornography rally and decided to inspect a number of roadside stalls on Jalan Masjid At-Taqwa which were thought to sell music as well as alcohol. Stallholders resisted the “inspections” and some violence broke out. Three policeman who happened to be in the area at the time attempted to prevent the FPI’s attack on the stalls but to no avail and about 11 stalls were damaged. A number of stallholders also suffered injuries.

One unit of the police Mobile Brigade remains stationed in the area and Bekasi police chief Chairul Anwar warned:

If there are anarchic actions the police will not remain silent and will punish those responsible.
(Jika sampai ada yang melakukan tindakan anarkis, maka polisi tidak tinggal diam dan akan memberikan sanksi hukum yang tegas.)

Tags: Java

21 Comments on “Front Pembela Islam Raids”

Anonymous_aloy Says:
May 26th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyon’s failure to curb thugs like FPI is the best evidence of his indecisiveness, incompetency, and ultimately his betrayal to Indonesia.
Rockstar Says:
May 29th, 2006 at 12:21 am
I agree. I just don’t get it why there hasn’t any actions been taken by our gov esp SBY.

I read wallst journal about the grwoth of Indonesian economy under his leadership but this doesn’t justify his slow reaction agaisnt any mob actions in indo.
armani x Says:
July 28th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
like I said early, FPI is a humiliation to this country. oh my God… those uneducated people…
ahmad fauzi Says:
November 5th, 2006 at 2:30 am
I think FPI doing whats is the best for Islam and also society while others remain silent watching and shouting without doing anything…cheerr…
Andrew Says:
November 5th, 2006 at 7:05 am
Doing what’s best for Islam? that does NOT give them the right to destroy people’s property, that’s what I call barbaric.
NN Says:
November 12th, 2006 at 9:30 am
people who tend to hurt other is not considered as human being. What FPI, JI, MMI do is humiliate the country and Islam itself..if we don’t want to be accused as terrorist, so dont think and act as a terrorist..
Karlira Kanakahuko Says:
November 15th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
I disaggree against Ahmad fauzi. You using Islam for evil purposes.
Mujahid Says:
March 29th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
They are thugs, paid by dirty politicians. Nothing about Islam, religion, whatsoever.

Sadly, they have no option, they need money to live but they are poor and uneducated. Uneducated AND poor people are very easy to be brainwashed.

The solution?

EDUCATION. EDUCATION. EDUCATION. The government should put higher budget on education.
Ridwan Says:
May 4th, 2007 at 1:21 am
What a shame for the Indonesian government to coward before the FPI. If they are allowed to be thugs today, who knows what they could try to do tomorrow. They have no respect for the law, property, freedom and, what’s worse, for the message and spirit of Islam (would the Prophet, PBUH, have advocated such actions? I think not). I hope someone in Indonesia starts to stand up against these despicable barbarians. It’s about time.
Janma Says:
May 4th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
bubarkan aja… udah… gitu aja kok repot.
Gazza Deans Says:
April 4th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Front Pembantu Indonesia??? What they do? Busrt in an sweep up! That’s what they paid to do!!!!!

You guys need to lighten up and let the little ladies get on with the chores. No more tapping ass in the hope of getting lucky!!!

You are lucky its not the BBB - Boring Bullsheet Bules. Wait till Freddie Foghorn catches up with you in a bar. “When I was a sheet Hot programmer in Uzbekistan”.

Or ChubbyUK: “I’ve been here a week and already I have impregnated a local”.
Chaostiq Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:51 am
FPI. More and more, gave worst descriptions to Islam. Sometimes I think, FPI is being used by some people who had trapped with some mistake perceptive about paradigma Islam itself. It mean FPI people have less acknowledge about the beauty of the Islam. Indeed, that’s caused by how poor their EDUCATION. Beside the difference between DI/TII, FPI and PKI, they have similarity–That is brutality terrorist. Please, my ISLAM don’t be used to humiliating another people and please use your cognitive mainly do not be a barbarian.
Rob Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
Chaostiq…

Maybe Indonesia needs more people who feel that FPI distorts the true meaning of Islam to speak out against it! To rally the masses against the forces that manipulate FPI and see that it is disbanded or forced to change its beliefs and the manifestation of these beliefs in violence…

Maybe IM is a place where this might start as dialogue and debate, but ultimately this debate requires brave men and women to take it to the field of play and advocate for change!
Raden Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 11:19 am
Maybe IM is a place where this might start as dialogue and debate, but ultimately this debate requires brave men and women to take it to the field of play and advocate for change!

It is clear that you are not Indonesian & do not really hv a real clue on how does it works in Indonesia.
In my opinion, they do not think but they act on amok, the sermon of those FPI kyai who brainwashed the younger FPI members have blind folded them. If you want to start dialog, it should hv been done 20 years ago when those who did AMOK yesterday still in primary school. We were late, and we hv to face the higher price to pay today, it could be another civil war until the other side are defeated
Rob Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Raden…

Nope, I am not an Indonesian. I have lived here for 15 years and perhaps I have more of a clue than you think, particularly about how it works in Indonesia. However, you are entitled to your opinion no matter how misguided it might be. But it is what I would have expected; only Indonesians can have opinions on Indonesian affairs!

Wait a second, maybe only members of FPI can have opinions on the FPI or only Muslims can hold views on Islam or perhaps only those who have run amok can have an opinion on what the motivations are for running amok!

Unfortunately, we cannot wind the clock back 20 years and start dialogue. Your view presupposes that it is too late for dialogue and that we must enter into war until one side is left standing. I disagree! I think dialogue is possible! With the FPI, probably not, but I was advocating dialogue on a much broader level with the majority, who after all claim to be moderate.

But then what would I know I am just a stupid white bloke without a clue! But dude go fight your war with the FPI and good luck with that.
Rob Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Raden,

Feel free to enlighten me with how it is in Indonesia! One thing I am good at is learning new things. I am a committed life long learner! So, any new things I can learn from you would be appreciated!

Cheers
Janma Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I’ll tell you how it is in Indonesia!….. it’s bloody circling the plug hole if you ask me!

Electricity off half the week and costing more than most developed countries in a country where about 60% of the people spend 90% of their income on food!
The radicals are rampaging free all over the country and are still seen as ‘islam taat’ by the majority, including the police force.
The richest men are eating the all rice from the bowl (see Indonesia as the bowl) as fast as they can before they let it drop and smash on the ground.
‘Free’ 4 kg gas bottles given to poor people to help with the fuel crisis are exploding at the rate of about 40 a week in Bali alone!
There is religious discrimination rampant at all levels of the government and law enforcement agencies.
Schools, roads and other public infrastructure are falling apart at a rate of knots and rarely repaired.
Mosques are being built by the dozens and churches are being burnt and nothing is being done.
Plus nobody in this country knows the rules of the road and they can’t bloody drive!

Ok….feel better now… back to work.
Rob Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Janma…

Thanks…I feel enlightened
JD Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
FPI is backed up by the ‘ABRI ijo’ (muslim element of the army) that has been completely marginalized like Wiranto (who doesnt even dare to leave Indonesia as an international fugitive over his alleged crime in East Timor), Hartono, etc. Those defunct generals were not necessarily pious muslim or arabized; but they simply had tried to flirt with the marginalized muslims as a way to establish their own political foothold. Nobody in Indonesia ever trust the politics of Islam ‘cause it’s been known to be like the Arab, very untrustworthy and very criminal minded. Just like the Arab race. So, in short, the nemesis of those generals is the nationalist ones, including SBY who had successfully marginalized the ‘ABRI ijo’ inside the army. They are now together with the nationalist muslim like Gus Dur trying to marginalize the strength of this Arab-virus socially. And the strategy has been working really well actually. You need to see their escalation of violence as their failure, as a proof that they are resisting marginalization, rather than a proof that they get stronger!
And no, the government cannot really just sweep them out like in Tanjung Priok ‘cause that would be “a state crime against the people”. We all want that pragmatic approach for all Arab-virus of course, but the repercussion would be really bad. Don’t worry, it’s just a matter of time until the people run amok and behead those agents of Arab-virus. Everybody, rich poor stupid smart peaceful angry … all are already very angry to this Arab-virus incubating in Indonesia.
Rambutan Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Ah, the good old times of Petrus. Time to revive this highly pragmatic approach.
Raden Says:
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Hallo Rob,

Ah, the good old times of Petrus. Time to revive this highly pragmatic approach.

I am affraid, the above statement is true & the solution to fix the anarchy in this country. It will be a big setback for democracy but the enemy is an Arab terrorist ideology which unfortunately have been breeding wildly here without gov’t intervention / regulation since the past 10 years because of reformasi euphoria.

In essence, we hv no time to react because FPI have launched direct threat to President of Indonesia to issue presidential decree to banned Ahmadiya, it is a real test to our president and a show case how uncompromise is them.

Rob, do u still believe on dialog with them ? your life is worthless infront of them