KontraS Questioning The Urgency Of Munarman To Be Treated As A Terrorist, Urges Densus 88 To Talk

ILLUSTRATION/National Police (POLRI) Headquarters (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Researcher of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Rozy Brilian admitted that he was surprised by the police's treatment of Munarman.

KontraS highlighted the action of Densus 88 wearing an eye patch while escorting Munarman from his home in South Tangerang to Metro Jaya Police, Jakarta.

Rozy is worried that there will be potential abuse of power and arbitrariness by the authorities in Munarman's arrest.

"We question the urgency of Munarman being treated as a terrorist. Densus 88 must clearly explain this process," said Rozy, Thursday, April 29.

In fact, Rozy suspects that Munarman's arrest case is not related to terrorism. However, it was the crowd case and the disbanding of the FPI that brought Munarman into legal trouble.

"The Munarman case seems to be a continuation of the FPI crowd case, the FPI disbandment, extrajudicial killings, we suspect this is a series," he said.

Previously, the National Police had named Munarman a terrorist suspect. Munarman is suspected of planning acts of terrorism.

The alleged terror action plan was conveyed by the Head of Public Relations Division of the National Police, Grand Commissioner Ahmad Ramadhan. "Yes, he has," he said during a question and answer session with reporters, Wednesday, April 28.

Munarman was arrested by Densus 88 on Tuesday, April 27 at around 15.30 western Indonesia time at Modern Hills Housing, Cinangka, Pamulang, South Tangerang.

Munarman is suspected of mobilizing other people to commit criminal acts of terrorism, conspiring to commit criminal acts of terrorism, and withholding information about criminal acts of terrorism.

After Munarman was arrested, the Densus 88 Team also conducted a search at the former FPI banned mass organization office in Petamburan, Central Jakarta.

During the search, the team found the explosive raw materials for TATP or triacetone triperoxide, acetone, and nitrates.

The National Police Headquarters also emphasized the treatment of Munarman when he was taken to Metro Jaya Police. This treatment is in accordance with international standards.

"The international standard for arresting terrorists is like that. Terror crimes are organized crimes with a very wide network,” said Grand Commissioner Ramadhan.

Even with the handcuffs that were used on Munarman. This standard is called by the National Police as the principle of equality before the law.

"So at the time of the arrest of brother M, his position was already a suspect," said Grand Commissioner Ramadhan.

Munarman was charged with Law Number 5 of 2018 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism. However, regarding the article, Grand Commissioner Ramadhan did not mention it.

"Meanwhile (the article) is related to acts of terrorism. There's no way it is the snatching case, a case of fraud. (Charged with the article) on terrorism cases," he said.