ASSOCIATED PRESS, Fri Apr 19, 2002 2:20 AM ET
Local government bans foreigners from visiting riot-hit Maluku
province
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Authorities in Indonesia's riot-torn Maluku islands have
temporarily banned all foreigners, including reporters and aid workers, from visiting the
archipelago.
Visitors from fifteen mostly Middle Eastern countries are already prohibited from the
region, which has seen three years of violence between Muslims and Christians. Up
to 9,000 have been killed.
The ban, a copy of which was seen by The Associated Press on Friday, prevents
outsiders from visiting the islands until April 30.
It cites intelligence reports as saying that foreigners with "hidden agendas" are
planning to visit the eastern province in the run-up to a planned independence
demonstration by a Christian separatist group. It gave no more details.
On April 25, the Maluku Sovereignty Front, which is banned in Indonesia, plans to
raise separatist flags to mark a failed independence bid 52 years ago.
On Wednesday, police detained two leaders of the small and poorly supported group
over the flag-raising plans. The front is campaigning to make the southern part of the
archipelago an independent nation.
It was unclear whether foreigners already living in the region would be told to leave
under the terms of the ban. Several international aid organizations are running relief
programs on the islands.
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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