Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Police Chief Timur Pradopo said his office was investigating the actions of a group of Palangka Raya residents over the weekend against an FPI (Islam Defenders` Front) delegation at Cilik Riwut airport.

Timur made the statement here Monday after several FPI representatives had come to the National Police Headquarters earlier in the day to report what they said were criminal acts experienced by an FPI executive board deputation at Palamgka Raya`s airport on Saturday (Feb 11).

In the report to the police, FPI leader Habib Rizieq had said a five-man delegation of the FPI executive board that had just arrived at Cilik Riwut airport from Jakarta aboard a Sriwijaya flight was besieged by a crowd wielding sharp weapons. Some in the crowd threatened to kill the FPI delegates and torch the plane, according to Habib Rizieq.

The FPI also claimed the Central Kalimanan police had done nothing to prevent the incident and that therefore their chief should be suspended from his post.

Timur said the police leadership could not meet the FPI`s demand to suspend the Central Kalimantan police chief "just like that" but would take followup measures if there was a formal report or complaint. "We will certainly take followup action, if after an investigation in the field such action is considered necessary," he said.

But Timur also said he believed whatever the Central Kalimantan police had done in the case was for preventive purposes, to preempt the omission of criminal acts.

The FPI delegation that had had landed at Cilik Riwut airport last Saturday consisted of chairman of the FPI`s propagation section Habib Muhsin Ahmad Alattas, secretary general KH Ahmad Sobri Lubis, depuy secretary general KH Awit Masyhuri and FPI Legion commander Ustad Maman Suryadi.

Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan`s provincial capital, saw mass demonstrations by Dayak triba; people to express their objections to the planned opening of a local FPI branch. A crowd forced their way onto the apron of Cilik Riwut airport to prevent an expected FPI delegation from Jakarta from disembarking.

A group of local residents also burned down a tent that had been set up inside the city for the installation of the local FPI executive board.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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