INDONESIA: Java, crowd of thousands force Islamic fundamentalists to flee

The militant Islamic Defender Front (FPI) were trying to cause unrest in Pathean. The accidental death of a woman sparked the anger of the population, who attacked the extremists and forced them to flee. Indonesian society no longer tolerates the radical organization.Jakarta – Yesterday morning, thousands of Indonesians attacked and chased members of the Islamic Defender Front (FPI), Islamic extremist group, from Patehan (Kendal Regency, Central Java). Members of the fundamentalist organization ran riot around the city on motorcycles and in vans, to disturb the public peace and cause unrest among the population, fasting for Ramadan.

Tension rose when militants on board a van knocked down three people. One of them, a woman, died. Bystanders attempted to stop the vehicle to question the driver, but the militants fled the scene. At that point, thousands on the Islamic extremists, forcing them to flee. 27 of them sought refuge in a mosque nearby.

Police arrived on the scene and calmed the anger of the crowd, allowing the militants to leave. Inside the place of worship officers found and confiscated weapons and heavy artillery, belonging to FPI members.

At first Syihabuddin, branch president of FPI in Central Java, denied that anyone in the group had hit and killed the woman. However, his statement was followed by an official apology, claiming that it was an accident.

Increasingly the people of Indonesia seem less willing to stand for the excesses, violent and provocative attitudes of the Islamic Defender Front. Last year in Palangkaraya (province of central Borneo) the Dayak – Aboriginal population – prevented the local president of FPI from landing. A few months ago in Pontianak (West Borneo Province) Dayak thousands of young people organized a rally to protest the presence of the Islamic extremist group.