Police verify information from suspects involved in Saracen

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Police are studying information from suspects involved in "Saracen" group spreading hate speeches through social media Facebook to confirn parties in the organizational structure of the group.

"We are verifying the truth of their information," head of public information department of the Indonesian police Senior Commissioner Martinus Sitompul said at the police headquarters here on Monday.

Police are also collecting legal facts to confirm if the names suspected to be the administrators of Saracen known so far were true.

The police have arrested three suspects known as the administrators of "Saracen" that has spread hate speeches through Facebook known by their initisls as MFT, SRN and JAS.

The Saracen group has allegedly offered service to spread hate speeches including exploiting sensitive issues of religious, group and ethnic differences known locally as SARA issues.

After the arrests of the three suspects information spread in the internet mentioning names of a number of figures included in the organization structure of Saracen such as lawyer Eggi Sudjana.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has ordered the Police to thoroughly investigate the syndicate and parties suspected to have asked for its service to disseminate hate speeches.

"I have ordered the National Police (Polri) chief to thoroughly investigate it, not just the Saracen cyber group but also those who ordered (hate speech dissemination) and who paid it," said Jokowi at National Monument (Monas) square in Jakarta on Sunday.

Jokowi explained that the investigation was very important to carry out on those who asked the Saracens group to spread hate speeches.

The President also asked the public to use social media in a responsible manner and not to spread lies, slander or hate speeches that could damage the unity and integrity of the nation.

Also read: Eggy Sudjana reports four men who link his name to Saracen group

The head of state said the group that deliberately spread slander and inciting issues is endangering the state.

"There is no problem if they disseminate positive things, arouse optimism, invite people to carry out development, encourage them to do good deed, and advise the community to preserve politeness," the President said.

Saracen Group created a number of Facebook accounts including Saracen News, Saracen Cyber Team and Saracennewscom with a total followers of about 800 thousand accounts.

A number of the Saracen accounts are always spreading hate speech contents that are categorically sensitive issues of religious, racial, ethnic and group differences. Saracen has been managed by this group since November 2015.

Following is the structure of Saracen with the names of personnel involved in it that has spread so far.

Council of Advisors

Major General (ret) Ampi Tanudjiwa

Dr Eggi Sudjana SH

Council of Experts

Dr. M. Effendi Harahap

Rijal

Wahyu Diana

Riswan

Chairman : Jasriafi

Deputy.: Agus Setiawan

Secretaries