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The Jakarta Post


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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