The Jakarta Post, April 19, 2003
Security tightened in Maluku
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Authorities have tightened security in Maluku province ahead of the anniversary of the
Republic of South Maluku (RMS) independence movement on April 24.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said here on Thursday that the police were
ready to deal firmly with RMS supporters trying to hoist the separatist flag on April 24.
"We are guarding several places in the province that we think are possible sites where
independence supporters will hoist the flag, which we will strive to prevent from
happening," Da'i said after a Cabinet meeting here on Thursday.
Despite police warnings against hoisting the independence flag, over 2,000 RMS
supporters have vowed to raise the flag on the organization's anniversary on April 24,
raising fears of violent clashes between security personnel and the movement's
supporters.
RMS initiated an armed rebellion due to disappointment with Jakarta in the 1950s, but
it was crushed by government troops.
"The police will not hesitate to arrest anybody who insists on doing so (hoist the flag)
as it is against the law," said Da'i, adding that the police would deal with offenders
within the existing legal framework.
He also called on people not to incite further violence in Ambon, where a protracted
religious conflict had killed close to 10,000 people, mostly innocent civilians, since it
broke out in January 1999.
"We call on the people there not to incite new violence in Ambon because security in
that province has slowly improved," Da'i said.
Meanwhile, Maluku provincial legislature chairman Sahubura said on Thursday that
RMS was just a security disturbance movement that security personnel had to deal
with firmly.
He also called on the government to ban the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), whose
members support independence, and deal sternly with its members in accordance
with the law.
FKM was set up in 2000 in protest to the government's failure to put an end to
clashes between Muslims and Christians in the province.
FKM chairman Alex Manuputty was sentenced to three years in jail in January for
encouraging people to raise RMS flags in 2002. He, however, remains free pending
appeal.
Sahubura also urged both the Maluku administration and security personnel in the
province to maintain cohesiveness and solidarity among people in the province so that
both Christians and Muslims could join hands in dealing with separatists.
He also appealed to the public not to be easily provoked and to report the
whereabouts of separatists to local security officers.
Earlier, the Muslim community in the province had vowed to foil any anniversary
celebration of RMS next week.
The Islam Defenders Front of Maluku (FPIM) has began pasting green leaflets on
buildings in a predominantly Muslim housing complex in Ambon, warning the Muslim
community of the secessionist movement.
Such a response has raised fears of renewed religious conflicts in the province, as
virtually all FKM members are Christian.
FKM secretary-general Moses Tuanakota said that 2,500 supporters of the
organization would observe the anniversary by hoisting RMS flags across the
province.
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