The Jakarta Post, 8/19/2006 3:02:20 PM
Police track down people who hoisted RMS flags
AMBON, Maluku (Antara): Police are now tracking down people, who are accused of
raising the South Maluku Republic (RMS) flag while other Indonesians were
commemorating Independence Day on Aug. 17.
RMS flags, which were hoisted in Nusaniwe and Sirimau districts in Maluku province
on Aug. 17 and 18, have been seized by the police and kept as evidence at the
Maluku Police Headquarters.
Maluku Provincial Police chief Brig. Gen. Guntur Gatot Setyawan said Saturday that
the police would not be lenient on anyone who hoisted RMS flags while Indonesians
celebrated the anniversary of the declaration of independence.
According to Guntur, security in the province was not affected by the incident.
"People were not provoked by the seizures of the flags," he was quoted by Antara
news agency as saying.
A rebel movement declared RMS in 1950, but the Indonesian government ! quashed
the separatist movement. A number of people later established the Maluku
Sovereignty Front (FKM) in 1999 in an effort to revive the movement. Several FKM
leaders are now inprison.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Djoko Santoso stressed Friday that the military supported
crackdowns against the separatist movement. (**)
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
