The Jakarta Post, July 13, 2007
The Ambon incident was a good security test
Imanuddin Razak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The June 29 "war dance" incident in Ambon, Maluku, likely would have been less
significant if the dancers attempted to unfurl the illegal South Maluku Republic (RMS)
separatist flag before low-ranking government officials at a small event.
But, the fact that the unscheduled cakalele dance was performed in front of President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was in the Maluku provincial capital to attend the
National Family Day celebration, automatically made this a major incident.
For the President, it must have been a humiliating moment, as everything should have
been secured for him before his arrival at the venue.
It was no surprise then that Yudhoyono took the immediate opportunity of his speech
to the gathered crowd to tell security authorities to get tough on those involved in the
RMS flag waving, calling the incident part of an attempt to tear apart the republic.
The security and intelligence authorities immediately blamed each other for the
episode, with the State Intelligence Agency claiming it had reported a planned action
several days before the celebration in Ambon.
Police have denied any responsibility for the incident.
Saying it happened within the "Ring One" security area, which was meant to be the
most secure area in the venue, the chief of the Trikora Regional Military Command
which oversees Maluku and North Maluku provinces, Maj. Gen. Sudarmaidy Subandi,
said the incident was all his responsibility.
But what really happened that day? Who really is responsible for the episode?
The incident, although not involving violence, was still an act of separatism as the
dancers planned to unfurl the RMS flag. They missed the chance, though, when the
dancer who was supposed to unfurl the flag dropped it. Before the flag could be
recovered the 28 dancers were hurried out of the venue by security.
It is the responsibility of the police to follow up on the separatist aspect of this
episode.
Though South Maluku Republic chief Alex Manuputty is reportedly in hiding in the
United States, the movement continues to exists under the much lesser known
Simon Saiya.
The most troubling aspect of the incident is that the dancers were able to pass
through three levels of security set up by the Maluku Police and the Trikora Regional
Military Command, before being cleared to enter Ring One and perform the cakalele
dance, which was not included on the celebration schedule.
It was simply good luck the dancers did not intend to assassinate the President
considering they managed to get within 10 meters of the head of state.
What would have happened if the dancers carried real swords and not wooden ones?
What would have happened if one or several of the dancers had guns hidden inside
their tifa (traditional drums of Maluku)?
These are not impossibilities given the RMS flag they planned to wave in front of the
President was smuggled into the venue inside a tifa.
Remember the Oct. 6, 1981, assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat by a
group of armed soldiers participating in an annual military parade. They managed to
load their weapons with live rounds and smuggle in grenades to the parade venue.
The police or perhaps the Military Police should start their investigation by looking at
the Military Police officer who reportedly facilitated the entry of the cakalele dancers
into the venue.
An investigation is also necessary to find out why only one of the dancers had an ID
card, but they were all allowed into the venue. Normally, all participants entering a
venue for an event attended by the President must have their IDs with them at all
times.
Security authorities must gather all the necessary information to carry out an
investigation. The only question is whether the investigation will be transparent,
including the public release of all its findings.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
