Indonesia: What SBY Couldn't Do! | Activists Laud Dayaks' 'Momentous' Stand Against FPI

...the action taken by the Dayaks was completely understandable considering the FPI’s track record of being connected with violent acts against minority groups.

Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader Habib Rizieq Syihab was barred
from landing in Central Kalimantan amid protests by Dayak tribesman.  
(Antara Photo) 

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: The Jakarta Globe
By Dessy Sagita | February 12, 2012

The bravery displayed by the indigenous Dayak group from Central Kalimantan in standing up to the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) in its province should be appreciated and used to encourage other groups to speak up against religious intolerance, an activist said on Saturday.

Members of the Dayak tribe protested at Tjilik Riwut airport in Palangkaraya on Saturday, hoping to stop members of the FPI from arriving to attend the opening ceremony of the FPI branch office in Central Kalimantan.

“This is momentous. Don’t stay silent when you see people breeding hatred and intolerance,” said Bonar Tigor Naipospos, deputy chairman of the Setara Institute for Peace and Democracy.

The Dayak display stopped operations at the airport for more than two and half hours. Airport authorities eventually redirected the plane carrying FPI leader Habib Rizieq Syihab and his entourage to an alternate location.

The plane reportedly landed in Banjarmasin to drop off the FPI executives then continued to Tjillik after the airport returned to normal.

Bonar said the action taken by the Dayaks was completely understandable considering the FPI’s track record of being connected with violent acts against minority groups.

He said the FPI had announced its intention to open a branch in the neighboring province of East Kalimantan, and shortly after the declaration FPI members started to conduct raids on entertainment centers in the area.

“[The FPI] also harassed Ahmadiyah members in East Kalimantan,” he said.

“No wonder the people of Central Kalimantan are worried. The province has the biggest number of Ahmadiyah followers on the island. They are afraid that the FPI’s presence will taint the religious tolerance in their province.”

However, he said, Dayak tribesmen should act wisely by following proper procedures to deny the FPI’s presence.

“There must be a very strong argument why the FPI should not exist in their province, otherwise they will be violating the right for people to gather and have an organization,” he said.

Bonar said the tribesmen must find out who are the leading figures of the FPI Central Kalimantan chapter, and determine their backgrounds.

“Have a dialogue, find out what the vision of the organization is and make it promise not to commit any acts of violence or violate any laws. If they refuse to make such a commitment, only then will the Dayak people have a good reason to kick the FPI out of their district,” he said.

Bonar added that, given the FPI’s track record, it would be unlikely the organization would not commit any violations.

“Radicalism is inevitable, but as long as the radicals do not spread hate speech or violate any laws, they can be tolerated,” he said.

A spokesman for the Domestic Affairs Ministry, Redonnyzar Moenoek, told the Jakarta Globe that he could not comment before investigating the case.

“I have to verify the report and find out more before I can comment on this one,” he said.


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