JAKARTA, 27 August 2008 - Dozens of members from the FPI (Islamic Defenders Front) who were headed to Istana Negara - the state palace - ran into a police raid in the Semanggi area. The group dressed in mainly white which used cars and motorbikes were stopped for not wearing helmets and not being able to show their driving licenses. Furthermore the group was stopped for bringing flags and other attributes because it endangered other road users.

"They were forced to hand over their flag poles made of bamboo, which can endanger other road users. The flags themselves are more than enough," said coordinating member of FPI Bekas, Ustadz Sawabi when talking to some press near the Monas area in central Jakarta. Sawabi said that the police only gave warnings and did not arrest the mass of people which were on their way to the national palace. Earlier there were messages that the police was arresting members of the FPI in the Semanggi area.

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