Posted on 11/20/2003 2:32:42 AM PST by Stultis
| FPI Leader Released November 19, 2003 04:45 PM, |
| Laksamana.Net - Habib Rizieq Shihab, leader of the radical Islamic Defenders’ Front (FPI), was released from jail on Wednesday (19/11/03) after serving a seven-month sentence for ordering his militant followers to attack Jakarta nightspots. His wife, child and about 500 cheering supporters were present to greet him as he walked out of Central Jakarta’s Salemba jail, detikcom online news portal reported. Rizieq told the crowd he would continue his campaign for the imposition of Islamic law and the closure of entertainment venues deemed an affront to Islam. "I will continue my attacks on corrupt officials who give protection to these places of sin like nightclubs and gambling dens," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. "I'm happy to have gotten out of a small prison but now I've been released into a much bigger prison - the Republic of Indonesia," he added. Rizieq stopped short of saying he would order more attacks on Jakarta nightspots, some of which are now closed or operating under reduced hours during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan. Last month, the cleric said his followers would take the law into their own hands if city officials fail to close down bars and nightclubs over Ramadhan, but so far there have been no attacks. FPI was established in August 1998 and first hit the streets in November to help military-backed civilian security forces prevent pro-democracy activists from marching to parliament to express their demands for reform. The radical group soon became notorious for attacking bars, nightclubs, brothels, pool halls and other entertainment venues. The organization significantly toned down its violent activities after last year’s October 12 Bali nightclub bombings, which have been blamed on regional terrorism group Jemaah Islamiyah. FPI has not been linked to Jemaah Islamiyah, but has instead been accused of extorting protection payments from owners of Jakarta’s nightspots. Prior to the Bali blasts, authorities had generally turned a blind eye to FPI’s violent raids, lending credence to claims the organization was backed by powerful officials in the security forces. Rizieq has long demanded the destruction of nightspots on the grounds that they are hangouts of prostitutes, gamblers and drug abusers. He has also instructed his followers to trash signs advertising alcohol. At the opening of his trial in May, the cleric denied any wrongdoing and defended his actions, claiming they were in line with the religious and state laws. He said managers of “immoral” nightspots and the police who protect them were the ones who should be on trial. Rizieq was arrested on October 16, 2002, four days after the Bali blasts. He was released in November 2002 and placed under house arrest after FPI pledged to end its violent raids. But FPI in February 2003 announced it was making a comeback and threatened to attack Westerners. The group also urged Muslims to sign up to fight Americans in Iraq. Rizieq broke the terms of his house arrest status on April 8 by leaving Indonesia, ostensibly to participate in a humanitarian mission in Iraq, although it was unclear whether he actually went there. He was subsequently arrested upon his return to Jakarta on April 20. The following day his supporters helped him escape from police custody at a public prosecutor’s office, but he later surrendered and was sent to jail. On August 11, 2003, he was sentenced to seven months behind bars for inciting public unrest and insulting the government. Rizieq was one of several high-profile Muslim radicals to be jailed as part of the government’s effort to crack down on Islamic extremism. Abu Bakar Baasyir, the alleged spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, was earlier this year sentenced to four years in jail for treason. Several of his followers are among more than 30 suspects accused of responsibility for the Bali bombings. Already 20 people have been convicted of involvement in the bombings, with sentences ranging from three years to death. Jafar Umar Thalib, leader of the now defunct Islamic militia organization Laskar Jihad, was in January 2003 acquitted by East Jakarta District Court on charges of fomenting religious violence in the Maluku islands and inciting hatred of the government and president. The verdict raised serious doubts over whether Indonesia was serious about tackling criminal acts involving Islamic radicalism and communal violence. These doubts were reiterated when Baasyir received his four-year sentence in August. Critics slammed the verdict as “lenient” and criticized state prosecutors for failing to prove the cleric had ordered terrorist attacks. |
Freed Muslim militant vows to keep attacking nightclubs
November 19, 2003 - 3:32PM
A Muslim militant convicted of organising attacks on Jakarta nightclubs and restaurants was released from jail today, and vowed to carry on his campaign to rid the Indonesian capital of vice.
About 300 cheering supporters greeted Habib Rizieq Shihab, who heads the small, but high-profile Islamic Defenders' Front, as he left Salemba Prison in Jakarta.
They chanted "Allahu akbar" or "God is great" and "Long Live Rizieq".
Rizieq, who served a seven-month jail term, told the crowd that he would keep fighting to impose Islamic law in the country and rid the capital of nightclubs, discos and gambling dens.
"I will continue my attacks on corrupt officials who give protection to these places of sin like nightclubs and gambling dens," Rizieq said, stopping short of saying he would directly attack these establishments.
"I'm happy to have gotten out of a small prison but now I've been released into a much bigger prison - the Republic of Indonesia," he said.
Rizieq was sentenced in August, but because he had spent four months in custody, judges ruled that he would be released in November.
His group is generally dismissed as a criminal gang involved in protection rackets and extortion. It is not connected to the region's Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network.
The organisation gained notoriety in the past four years for sweeps through the capital's nightclub districts, breaking windows and smashing liquor bottles. The damage was limited and injuries were few.
The front disbanded after last year's Bali bombings that killed 202 people, but it has recently claimed to have regrouped.
Although it warned of renewed attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, so far the group has done nothing.
Rizieq was the latest Muslim radical to face justice in Indonesia, where the secular government has been cracking down on vocal militant Islamic groups.
Abu Bakar Bashir, the alleged spiritual leader of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah, was jailed in September for four years on treason. Several of his followers are among the 29 people convicted in the Bali bombings.
Jafar Umar Thalib, leader of the now-defunct Laskar Jihad militia, was acquitted in January of inciting supporters to wage war against Christians in the Maluku islands in Indonesia's east.
This P.O.S. is a much bigger fish. He's been talking $&*# even in jail. See:
| Cleric warns Muslims linked to U.S. ^ |
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| Posted by kattracks On 11/16/2003 11:58 PM CST with 12 comments Washington Times ^ | 11/17/03 | Sharon Behn JAKARTA, Indonesia — The imprisoned Islamic cleric thought to be a guiding force behind the Indonesian terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah warned that all Muslim countries with close ties to the United States were targets for attack. "As long as Muslim countries have close ties or support the U.S. government or U.S. policy, [they] will be threatened by a Muslim militant attack," said Abu Bakar Bashir, as he sat on the rough floor of the Salemba Prison, the Jakarta prison where he has been held for the past year. |
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