AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Thursday December 19, 2002
Prosecutors seek five years jail for Christian separatist leaders
JAKARTA -- Prosecutors Thursday sought a five-year prison term for two Christian
separatist leaders on Indonesia's Maluku islands.
Alex Manuputty, chairman of the Maluku Sovereignty Front, and co-defendant Samuel
"Sammy" Waileruny, 45, were charged with subversion for setting up an illegal
organisation and raising the banned flag of the Republic of South Maluku.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Both men carried out "an act of subversion with the intention of dividing the Unitary
State of the Republic of Indonesia," chief prosecutor Herman Kudubun told the North
Jakarta district court in asking for a five-year sentence.
Judges are not required to follow the sentence recommendation when they issue their
verdict in the case, which was adjourned until December 23.
Independence supporters declared a republic in the Malukus in 1950 and staged a
revolt against newly-independent Indonesia.
The rebellion was suppressed but activists, mainly in the Netherlands, launched a
failed campaign for international recognition.
More than 80 percent of Indonesia's 214 million people are Muslims. But in some
eastern regions, including the Malukus, Christians make up about half the population.
Copyright © 2002 AFP. All rights reserved.
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