BBC World News, Friday, 10 May, 2002, 10:41 GMT 11:41 UK
Jakarta targets Moluccas militants
Indonesian Muslims hold a rally in Jakarta 9 May 2002 in support of Laskar Jihad's
Jafar Umar Thalib.
A Muslim leader is under arrest for inciting violence
Indonesia has said it will expel thousands of armed Muslim militants from the eastern
Moluccas islands following the arrest of their leader six days ago.
Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government will remove
reputed troublemakers including the militant Laskar Jihad group and Christian
separatists.
The Java-based Laskar Jihad has been accused of stirring up violence between
Muslims and Christians in the Moluccas since its fighters arrived in the island chain in
May 2000 vowing to wage "holy war".
Religious fighting had broken out in 1999, sparked by a minor traffic accident, but
intensified in mid-2000.
The Laskar Jihad's leader Jafar Umar Thalib was arrested on 4 May for allegedly
inciting violence which may have led to a massacre of Christian villagers last month.
It was the worst bloodshed since a peace deal was signed between Muslims and
Christians in February.
Under the deal, both sides called on all unauthorised militia groups to surrender their
weapons and agreed that groups from outside the province causing problems should
leave.
However, Indonesian authorities admit both sides remain heavily armed, and the
government in Jakarta has been criticised for not cracking down on groups like Laskar
Jihad more promptly.
The security minister did not say when the Laskar Jihad would be forced to leave the
region but said "the sooner the better."
Laskar Jihad said it would ignore any expulsion order, and remain in the province
where it runs a school and a medical clinic alongside its paramilitary unit.
Muslim anger
The government also intends to dissolve the mainly Christian separatist group, the
Maluku Sovereignty Front, Mr Yudhoyono said on Friday.
Hamzah Haz shortly after visiting Jafar Umar Thalib, 8 May 2002
Vice-President Hamzah Haz visited Mr Jafar in detention
Its leader Alex Manuputty was arrested and charged with treason last month for
planning to raise a separatist flag.
The government move comes as Muslims have been protesting over the arrest of Jafar
Umar Thalib.
Mr Jafar is accused of inciting violence ahead of last month's attack on a Christian
village in which at least 12 people died, including women and a baby.
Mr Jafar had made a speech two days earlier in the islands' provincial capital Ambon
in which he called on his followers to "prepare our bombs and ready our guns".
The militant leader appears to have the backing of influential Muslims including
Vice-President Hamzah Haz, who visited him in his police cell on Wednesday.
Mr Haz has denied accusations that he was trying to interfere in the case and said he
was visiting Mr Jafar as a "Muslim brother" and in his capacity as leader of
Indonesia's largest Muslim political party, the United Development Party.
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