Indra Subagja, Jakarta – Around 30 members of the Central Leadership Committee of the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) arrived at the national police headquarters earlier today. They were demanding that Police Chief General Sutanto take firm action against the Indonesian Anti-Communist Front (FAKI) that attacked and broke up the East Java regional Papernas conference in Batu City, Malang on March 4.

“We are demanding that the police immediately initiate legal proceedings to arrest and try the FAKI leadership and organisations of this type”, said the head of Papernas’ political and democratisation division, Dominggus Oktavianus, at police headquarters on Jl. Trunojoyo in South Jakarta on Monday March 5.

During an audience with the head of the public information division, Police Superintendent Bambang Kuncoko, who was acting in the capacity of the representative for police headquarters, Papernas also demanded that the national police dismiss Batu City Municipal Police Chief Assistant Superintendent Bambang Priyo Andogho.

“The person concerned has been negligent and failed to carry out their duties to provide security protection”, said Dominggus. The Papernas leadership also said that there is no basis to claim that their party to is following a course towards communism.

Kuncoko meanwhile said that the national police have accepted the complaint and will immediately conduct and investigation. “We will make inquiries, conduct an investigation and settle this legally”, he said.

Having been at police headquarters since 11am, after one-and-a-half hours the Papernas members left. (nik/nrl)

[Translated by James Balowski.]