TNI Intervenes To Remove Billboards Rizieq, FPI: The President Is Scaring The People

Removal of Rizieq Shihab's Billboards (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Spokesperson for the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), Munarman, regretted the actions of TNI officers who removed billboards and banners with Rizieq Shihab's picture in various regions.

Munarman said that the removal of billboards was carried out on the orders of President Joko Widodo. He considered that Jokowi's decision would scare FPI members and the people.

"The state's political policy which is being decided directly by the President at this time is the removal of banners and billboards. This will frighten FPI and the people," Munarman told reporters on Friday, November 20.

According to him, this action was a military operation other than war (OMSP) which was ordered directly by the president. Munarman also regretted why the removal of billboards was carried out by super elite troops.

"Unfortunately, the troops deployed to Petamburan are super elite troops. Soldiers who are formed to become elite soldiers are expensive for investment. Unfortunately if they are used to frighten the people," said Munarman.

As is well known, joint officers from the TNI, Polri and Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) curbed a number of unlicensed billboards and banners in the capital. There are 500 combined personnel deployed.

"This is part of the activities of the three pillars as security patrols and we are also releasing billboards that are not installed according to the rules," said Dandim 05/01 JP BS Colonel Inf Luqman Arief who led the activity in the National Monument (Monas) area.

Some of the tactical vehicles that were deployed in security in the Central Jakarta area were four armored anoa and dozens of motorbikes driven by both TNI and Brimob Polri officers.

The security route carried out by the joint officers started from Jalan Budi Kem glory, then turned towards Jalan Abdul Muis, then towards Pasar Tanah Abang, then headed towards the Petamburan area.

After the direction of Petamburan, the journey continues towards the Semanggi Roundabout and leads to Jalan Jendral Sudirman then returns to the starting point, namely the National Monument.

"From the route we passed, there were approximately 10 illegal billboards that we secured," said Luqman.

Some of the billboards that were put in order included party bills, then Waskita's, to the rest of Rizieq Shihab's welcome billboards posted by his supporters.