Commission III of DPR Protests against Munarman's Arrest to BNPT: Is it because he is FPI?
Tuesday, Februari 1, 2022
Faktakini.info, Jakarta - More and more people are expressing their astonishment at how a human rights fighter like Munarman has suddenly been accused of being a terrorist and has even been linked to the ISIS network and so on.
Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the DPR, Desmond J. Mahesa, lodged a protest with the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) regarding the arrest of the former General Secretary of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).
This was conveyed by Desmond in a working meeting between Commission III and the Head of BNPT Komjen Boy Rafli Amar at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Tuesday (25/1).
"The question is, is it because he [Munarman], after being banned from the FPI, he was charged with anti-terrorism. Or is he a terrorist which is not clear to me," Desmond told Boy.
Desmond, who is a Christian, said he was surprised by the arrest of Munarman, who was accused of being linked to a terrorist network in Indonesia. He said Munarman was his best friend when he was still active at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH).
According to him, several members of Commission III of the DPR have also been active in the institution, such as PPP politician Arsul Sani, NasDem politician Taufik Basari, Democrat politician Benny K Harman, PAN politician Sarifuddin Suding.
While active at LBH, the Gerindra politician revealed that together with Munarman, he often defended the underprivileged people. According to him, after that Munarman continued his struggle through FPI.
"For me, as a friend of him, I was surprised, why? Because, yes, there is Pak Arsul, my senior at LBH, there is my junior, Taufik Basari. There is Benny Harman, is there Pak Suding or not here? people who used to be at LBH," Desmond said.
Desmond then questioned Munarman's accusation of terrorism. According to him, Munarman does not deserve to be accused of being involved in acts of terrorism if he is only related to one network. Unless, said Desmond, the former General Secretary of FPI carried out acts of terror that harmed the state.
"If he takes action that is detrimental to a country that is truly terror, it must be punished fairly and fairly," said Desmond.
"This is a record for us, I especially saw that I was shocked, because whatever he is my friend. Please respond to my notes. Is it because he is FPI being called a terrorist or he is part of a terrorist network? That's my record," he said.
Previously, Munarman was charged with mobilizing people to commit acts of terror and assisting acts of terrorism. He is said to have pledged allegiance to ISIS and Abu Bakar Al Baghdadi in a number of activities, such as at UIN Jakarta.
However, Munarman firmly denied taking allegiance to ISIS and Abu Bakar Al Baghdadi at the event held at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Ciputat, Tangerang or UIN Jakarta.
Before being arrested, Munarman had conveyed that there was an operation to terrorize himself and the FPI and it was all related to the murder case of 6 FPI Laskars at the KM 50 Jakarta - Cikampek toll road which occurred on Monday (7/12/2020).
“This is a massive and systematic media operation to raise public opinion in order to frame, stigmatize and label myself and the FPI to be terrorists. The goal is that if FPI is considered a terrorist organization then the killing of FPI members becomes legal. So that later if the FPI management is shot dead or arrested, no one will defend it, and the six laskar cases will disappear," Munarman said in a video received by Suara Islam Online, Thursday (11/2/2021).
In the previous trial, Munarman said that what is happening now is a slander for him, because it is not in accordance with reality.
“My case is a big slander against me. It doesn't match the reality that is inside of me," said Munarman in an online trial at the East Jakarta District Court, Wednesday (1/12/2021).
Photo: Desmond J Mahesa (Andri/Man)
Source: CNNIndonesia.com