THE AUSTRALIAN, April 16, 2002
Foreigners banned from Maluku
By Don Greenlees, Jakarta correspondent in Ambon
THE civil emergency administration in the violence-torn province of Maluku has
banned foreigners, including aid workers and journalists, from entering until the end of
April to reduce international attention on a planned separatist flag-raising ceremony.
Amid concerns over violence being sparked by the flag-raising on April 25, the Maluku
Government used civil emergency powers, granted in June last year, to impose the
ban late last week and turned back two aid workers at the airport in the province's
capital, Ambon.
The decision follows a powerful bomb blast in the centre of Ambon on April 3 that left
seven people dead and scores wounded in a Christian quarter of the city. Later that
day the Governor's office was gutted by fire.
The incident, and plans to raise the Republic of South Maluku flag, revived anxieties
over security following the recent signing of a peace agreement that helped bring calm
to a sectarian conflict that has claimed up to 6000 lives in the past three years.
Foreign security analysts and local leaders have expressed concern the flag-raising
could be the trigger for a new outbreak of bloodshed between Muslims and Christians
or another terrorist-style attack. Indonesian police and soldiers have stepped up
surveillance of the so-called Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), the group behind the
flag-raising.
One of the leaders of the largely Christian-controlled FKM, Louis Risakotta, said the
flag-raising would take place in 30 locations across the eastern islands of Maluku in
order to focus international attention on the sectarian conflict and its aftermath.
Despite objections from the UN, Mr Risakotta said the FKM would also raise the UN
flag alongside the Republic of South Maluku flag, which originated with a 1950s
separatist movement that had all but died out prior to the outbreak of sectarian fighting
in 1999.
"The flag-raising will celebrate the birthday of the Republic of South Maluku," he said.
"And it will draw attention to the genocide that has been committed in Maluku."
Although the flag-raising also took place last year following the FKM's creation in
December 2000, Muslim leaders and government authorities regard the act as a
potential provocation that could disturb the so-called Malino peace agreement signed
in February.
The local Government has alleged FKM has been receiving outside support,
particularly from expatriate Moluccans. A letter sent by the Government to the UN
confirming plans to ban foreigners referred to concerns about the April 25 anniversary.
Immigration and police officials are scrutinising arrivals at the airport. On Thursday,
they turned back the Indonesian country director of Paris-based Action Against
Hunger, Stephene Reyneer.
© The Australian
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