Samsudhuha Wildansyah, Jakarta – Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) General Chairperson Sobri Lubis has called on supporters to prepare themselves for and take part in a long-term constitutional jihad (holy war) if incumbent President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is declared the winner of the 2019 presidential election.
Responding to the call, the Metro Jaya Jakarta police are appealing to the public to respect the Constitutional Courts’ (MK) ruling and not create an uproar.
“Our appeal is that all of society respect whatever the Constitutional Court’s ruling is. Continue to safeguard peace, unity, don’t be provoked by all kinds of things lest it crate a rowdy situation”, said Metro Jaya public relations head Senior Commissioner Argo Yuwono when spacing with Detik.com on Thursday June 27.
Yuwono also said that police will not prohibit groups from protesting the Constitutional Court ruling but he appealed to them to respect the law.
“If there are protesters or groups after the MK ruling who are said to want to hold activities conveying their opinions in public, please go ahead. What’s important is that protests obey the laws that are in force”, asserted Yuwono.
Lubis’ call for a long-term constitutional jihad was conveyed during an action at the Horse Statue near the Constitutional Court in Central Jakarta on Thursday June 27.
He invited the masses to prepare themselves to wage a jihad if the Constitutional Court rejects a challenge to the presidential election result by the loosing ticket of Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno.
“If it is 01 [the Widodo ticket] that wins, we will continue to fight. Prepare yourselves for a long jihad. A long-term constitutional jihad. [We] must make a commitment that we will only heed the truth. We will forever reject all forms of fraud and injustice”, said Lubis during a speech from the command vehicle on Jl Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta on Thursday.
“[FPI supreme leader] Habib Rizieq’s message is, the fight cannot be allowed to stop, no matter what happens, continue to uphold real justice for the Indonesian people”, he added. (sam/mea)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “FPI Serukan Jihad Konstitusional Jangka Panjang, Polisi: Jangan Terprovokasi”.]
