AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Sunday May 12, 2002 1:43 PM
Military to oversee gradual pull-out of Jihad members from
Maluku
The Indonesian military will oversee Jakarta's order for members of the Java-based
Laskar Jihad Muslim militia to pull out of the riot-hit province of Maluku, but will do it in
stages.
Maluku Military Commander Brigadier General Mustopo said Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, has ordered an immediate
withdrawal of Laskar Jihad members from Maluku and their return to home villages,
the state Antara news agency said on Sunday.
"But a strategy should be used in their return," Mustopo said, adding that the return
will be managed in stages.
He did not say how many Jihad members are estimated to be in Maluku or when the
pull-out will start.
On Friday Yudhoyono said he had issued orders for the direct removal of the Laskar
Jihad and the disbanding of a Christian-based separatist movement, the Maluku
Sovereignty Front (FKM), to try to save a precarious peace deal reached between
Muslims and Christians after years of bloodshed.
Indonesian police arrested Laskar Jihad commander Jaffar Umar Thalib earlier this
month, with the cabinet's approval. He is charged with inciting a deadly attack on
Christian villagers.
Laskar Jihad has been accused of stoking sectarian violence since it arrived in the
island chain in May 2000 vowing to wage "holy war". Security forces made no move to
stop their arrival.
Bitter sectarian fighting since 1999 has claimed more than 5,000 lives.
A state-brokered peace pact in February this year brought a brief calm but has been
undermined by a series of violent incidents since early April -- notably the April 28
massacre of 13 Christian villagers.
Last month police arrested Alex Manuputty, the FKM leader, who was reportedly
planning to raise an illegal separatist flag -- an action that sparks outrage among
loyalist Muslims. They have said that he and 16 supporters will be charged with
subversion.
Copyright © 2001 AFP. All rights reserved.
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