The Jakarta Post, June 30, 2007
Flag-waving incident no real threat, says Kalla
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Ambon
A group of protesters attempted to wave the flag of a separatist group in front of the
presidential entourage in Ambon on Friday, but officials were quick to downplay its
significance.
While the protesters were arrested after their unscheduled war dance, President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was on a visit to Ambon, immediately spoke out
against "any attempt to contest the unitary republic".
Vice President Jusuf Kalla and presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng separately
said the supporters of the South Maluku Republic (RMS) did not pose a serious threat
to the country's unity.
"It may just be one or two emotional people who just wanted to cause a commotion...
In fact, the RMS no longer exists," Kalla told reporters on Friday.
Observers have offered varied versions of the RMS' current situation, with some saying
the original separatist group, formed in 1950, is no longer effective as its elderly few
leaders remain in the Netherlands. Others say the RMS still has support in Maluku
and in the Netherlands, where a number of Indonesians of Maluku origin reside.
Nevertheless, Kalla said those who took part in the incident should be brought to the
court and tried for treason.
The world's leaders often face such protests, he said.
The incident took place during a ceremony to commemorate National Family Day in
Ambon. A number of people rushed the field while Maluku Governor Karel Albert
Ralahalu was reading his speech.
The people performed the cakalele war dance for 15 minutes before one of them
unfolded a large RMS flag. Security personnel managed to grab the flag before it was
waved.
The authorities detained 28 RMS separatists. Most of them were arrested and
convicted in similar cases in 2004 and 2005.
One of the protesters, Abraham Sinja, said they had been preparing the stunt for a
month.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto denied allegations that the
incident was the result of an oversight on their part. Police were quick to seize the flag
and arrest the protesters, he said.
In Jakarta legislators asked how the protesters were able to elude security forces,
including presidential guards.
Jeffrey Massie, a legislator of the Prosperous Peace Party, said the President should
take strong action over the breach in security, "or people will think it's easy to
assassinate national leaders." (08)
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