All have been released, except five, who are caught carrying sharp weapons, and two others who are caught carrying marijuanaJakarta (ANTARA) - The Police of Jakarta named seven of 455 sympathizers of Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Habib Rizieq Shihab suspects for allegedly carrying sharp weapons and illicit drugs during a peaceful rally in Central Jakarta on December 18.
"All have been released, except five, who are caught carrying sharp weapons, and two others who are caught carrying marijuana," Jakarta Police spokesman Sen. Coms. Yusri Yunus was quoted as saying by ANTARA in Jakarta on Monday.
On Friday, Dec 18, hundreds of Muslims flocked to Thamrin Street in Central Jakarta to join the so-called "1812 rally" to demand an immediate release of the FPI leader, currently detained by the Jakarta police over a health protocol breach case.
Co-organized by the 212 Alumni Brotherhood (PA 212), the National Movement to Safeguard Ulema Fatwas (GNPF), and FPI, the protesters, who planned to stage a peaceful rally in front of the Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta, were disbursed by the police.
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police did not issue a permit for the rally over concerns of the emergence of a new cluster of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic that has dragged Indonesia into public health and economic crises.
According to Yunus, the suspects carrying sharp weapons were apprehended in Tangerang, Banten Province, and North Jakarta, while two others were arrested in Depok, West Java Province.
Except those named suspects in cases of possession of sharp weapons and drugs, most of Shihab's sympathizers were detained for 24 hours. They were then freed after being questioned and registered by the police investigators.
However, in a bid to halt the emergence of new clusters in the aftermath of the rally, the police conducted massive rapid testing on the 455 arrested protesters. The police reported that 28 received "reactive" results in their rapid testing.
They were released but not allowed to go home. They were instead taken to the Wisma Atlet COVID-19 emergency hospital to undergo swab testing to ensure whether they had contracted the novel coronavirus disease, Yunus remarked.
On Thursday (Dec 17), or a day prior to the massive protests over Shihab's arrest in Jakarta and several other cities in Java, including Tasikmalaya and Yogyakarta, two staff members of the German Embassy visited FPI's secretariat in Petamburan.
The embassy's staff members met with FPI Secretary General Munarman, who was quoted by local media reports as saying that they extended their deep condolences over the deaths of six guards of the FPI leader Shihab on December 7, 2020.
In response to this move, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry had summoned a German Embassy's representative on Sunday (December 20) to lodge a protest.
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is currently conducting a comprehensive investigation into the deaths of these six FPI members.
According to Jakarta Metropolitan Police chief, Insp. Gen. Fadil Imran, on-duty police investigation officers had shot dead six FPI members for attacking them in an incident that occurred at 00:30 a.m. on December 7 on KM 50 of the Jakarta-Cikampek Toll Road.
At the time, the officers were probing information on a likely mobilization of masses for which Shihab was to be probed by the Jakarta Police, he remarked.
The Jakarta Police had summoned Shihab for allegedly violating COVID-19 health protocols during his daughter's wedding that coincided with the maulid, which marks the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, thereby leading to crowding.
"When officers of the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police followed vehicles suspected of carrying MRS (Muhammad Rizieq Shihab) followers, the officers' vehicle was intercepted and then attacked with firearms and sharp weapons," Imran informed.
The Jakarta Police chief confirmed that of the 10 attackers, six were killed in the shooting, while four fled.
Imran confirmed that no casualties or injuries were reported from the police side, though their vehicle had incurred damage after being hit by the vehicle carrying the FPI members, who opened fire.
However, the FPI denied claims that its members had attacked police officers on grounds that they were unarmed.
"FPI members do not have firearms. A shootout is impossible," Munarman, the general secretary of FPI, stated at a press conference.
Asserting that the fatal shooting was an extrajudicial killing, Munarman urged that an independent fact-finding team involving Komnas HAM be formed to uncover the truth behind the incident.
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EDITED BY INE
Translator: Fianda SR, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
