Let the people judge whether the President has uttered slander or not."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Cabinet secretary Dipo Alam said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had no intention to slander the Islamic Defenders` Front (FPI) when he made a statement about the organization recently.
He said here on Tuesday that the President only wished to call on the people to respect each other with his statement.
"I really have a pity on them (FPI) if they claim that the President has a bad intent. With the statement the President only wished to call on people to respect each other. It is impossible for the President to do that," he said.
President Yudhoyono recently said that he was monitoring talks in the social media about the recent clash between FPI and community members in Central Java.
In connection with it he called on all parties to respect the current fasting month of Ramadhan.
He said in the current holy month people should prevent acts that could spoil their fast including violent acts because violent acts done under the name of religion are not tolerable moreover under the name of Islam.
"Let the people judge whether the President has uttered slander or not. To me I do not think so," he said referring to the statement.
He said that spreading good teachings, Islamic teachings must not be done through violence or by taking laws in their own hands.
"What we demand (from FPI) is avoid acts and behavior that they did under the name of religion because people do not like violent acts or an act of taking laws into their own hands," he said.
Dipo reminded of the state`s duty to protect all Indonesia citizens as mandated by the constitution that also bans violation of laws.
A mother was killed while riding a motorcycle after a car carrying FPI members hit her during the clash.
(Reporting by GNC Aryani/Uu.H-YH/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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