AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, Thursday April 18, 2002 11:26 AM
Police detain Maluku separatist leader
A separatist leader in Indonesia's Maluku islands has been detained over his plan to
raise a secessionist flag later this month, police said.
Dozens of armed police picked up Alex Manuputty, chairman of the pro-independence
Maluku Sovereignty Front, at his home in the city of Ambon on Wednesday night.
"He will be questioned about his plan to raise the flag of the Republic of South Maluku
(RMS) on April 25," said an officer at Maluku police headquarters, who identified
herself only as Leni.
She insisted Manuputty was not arrested and said he had not yet been charged with
any offence.
"The reason why so many policemen were present last night was because we wanted
to prevent possible rioting by his supporters and probably provocateurs who might
want to exploit the situation," Leni told AFP.
Leni did not say how long Manuputty would be detained at the police headquarters.
She said police would arrest anyone who insisted on hoisting the RMS flag on April
25, which coincided with the anniversary of the Maluku Sovereignty Front, if
"persuasive approaches" failed.
People loyal to Dutch colonial rule declared the RMS in 1950 and staged a revolt
against newly-independent Indonesia.
The rebellion was finally quashed but RMS activists, mainly in the Netherlands,
launched a campaign for international recognition.
The Maluku islands have also been the scene of three-year bloody clashes between
Muslims and Christians, which left more than 5,000 dead and a trail of destruction.
A pact signed in February by leaders of both camps ended the bloodshed.
More than 80 percent of Indonesia's 214 million people are Muslims but in some
eastern regions, including the Malukus, Christians make up about half the population.
Copyright © 2001 AFP. All rights reserved.
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