INDONESIA IS NOT YET FINAL
 Other articles of Joshua Latupatti (most in Indonesian)
INDONESIA IS NOT YET FINAL
Dear all,
The above title is deliberately chosen as an argument against a statement written in
"Republika", April 14, 2002, saying "The Unitary Republic of Indonesia is final".
Indonesia has once included East Timor as its 27th province but that province has
now became an independent nation. No one has ever said that the Soviet Union was
final. Not a single colonial would remain unchanged as the civilization progresses
towards having a high regard for justice and freedom as part of human rights. Hence,
Indonesia would always change, and some may be in a radical way, until human
rights are fully guaranteed. Indonesia could only stand firm, if its foundation is free
from cavities of corruption, injustice, oppression and other kinds of human rights
abuse.
Now let's be honest and be brave to take the side of the truth! Can anybody take a
stand for Indonesia proclaiming that this country is totally free from any kind of crime
against humanity? If this question be regarded as illogical since no body is perfect, let
me ask another one. If there was such alleged crimes against humanity, has it been
settled in courts of law? If so, then in case of Moluccan conflict the questions, "Why
are Christians thus repressed whereas Muslim provocators, such as the SPMM radio,
go unhampered?" (CRISIS CENTRE DIOCESE OF AMBOINA, Report No. 263, April
17, 2002), would never be asked, in relation to Indonesia's government actions against
the FKM (Moluccan Sovereignty Front), accused for renewing the 'separatism'
movements of the Republic of South Moluccas (RMS).
Let's concentrate on the most popular term, "separatism", recently addressed to the
FKM and the RMS. This very term has been used intensively by, "Jawa Pos" (April
18,02), "Republika" (April 17, 02), "AFP" (April 18,02), "BBC,London" (April 18,02),
Minister of Internal Affairs, a retired army general, "Hari Sabarno" (Liputan6.com, April
20,02), Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare "Jusuf Kalla" (Jakarta Post, April
19, 02), Army Strategic Commander, "Ryamizard Ryacudu" (liputan6.com, April 22,
02), Pattimura Regional Military Commander, "Moestopo" (Surya Online, April 16, 02),
Moloccas District Police (Jakarta Post, April 22, 02), "Solahuddin Wahid", from NU,
former president Abdurrahman Wahid's brother (Jakarta Post, April 17, 02), "KH
Hasyim Muzadi", Chief of Nahdatul Ulama (NU) (Jakarta Post, April 18, 02), "Rev.
Yewangoe", from PGI (Jakarta Post, April 18, 02), "Romo Iswantoro" from KWI
(Republika, April 17, 02), and many others such as vice President of Indonesia,
"Hamzah Haz", Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, "Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono" and the Governor of Moluccas, the Civil Emergency Chief,
"Mohammad Saleh Latuconsina".
There is one only question to be asked, "Has any of these people ever formally and
scientifically proven that the RMS was, according to any International Law, a
'separatism movements' or a 'rebellious group'? The answer is obvious, "NO! None of
them has!" Even Indonesia has never done it, and may never be able to do so!
Indonesia has absolutely nothing to say to condemn the RMS, except keeps relying
on Soekarno's unsubstantiated words of 'a naughty boy in the family'! In fact, this boy
was, is, and will always be a victim of his 'neighbor's greed, crime and hypocrisy'.
What Indonesia has been doing for so many years is to quiet Moluccans is "To kill
them before they grow", and the history is about to repeat itself in a few days. To
legalize its crime against humanity, Indonesia has to invent untruth stories and to
spread out falsehood statements as we are about to discuss.
According to Liputan6.com, April 20,02, the Minster of internal affairs, a retired army
general, "Hari Sabarno" said that, 'Indonesia's government always initiates and
welcomes any separatist group who prefers to have a discussion with the
governmant'. In case of FKM, Hari Sabarno has just barefacedly told a lie. FKM has
sent several invitations to Indonesia's government to have a debate on what it stated
as "a legitimacy of the RMS" but there has not been a single answer whatsoever. Mr.
Manuputty and his colleagues have even paid a visit to the Legislative Council (DPR)
in Jakarta, but they were ignored and avoided. Consequently, another statement Hari
Sabarno made on Friday, April 19, 02, that 'any separatism movement can always be
accepted in a dialogue as long as it is still in a political context', was simply another
insincere statement.
To Liputan6.com, April 16, 02, Hari Sabarno said that "there is not a single republic
inside the Unitary Republic of Indonesia". This is only true after June 1959, when
Soekarno produced his one-sided decree to force Indeonsia to reimplement the 1945
constitution. Before then, there was no Unitary Republic of Indonesia, but the United
States of Indonesia (RIS) governed by the RIS constitution. What Hari Sabarno didn't
say as any Indonesia's government official, military commander and police officers are
afraid to admit, that "there are many invaded countries in this Unitary Republic of
Indonesia, one of which known as the Republic of South Moluccas (RMS), whose
independent was and is verified by International Laws and Conventions (Linggarjati,
Renville, Moehammad Roem-van Royen and Round Table)"! If this statement is not
true, what stops Indonseia's government from overruling it through an International
Court of Law? It is so pathetic that what Indonesa's government is able to do is 'to use
three flag poles Mr. Manuputty's front yard and several piece of flags suspected as
RMS flags as evidences of a separatism movements"! Such a law abiding country!
AFP, April 18, 02, stated that "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". It is extremely easy to say this since it is in accordance
with what Soekarno and Indonesian history book say. I believe wrinkles will developed
at AFP's forehead when is realizes that the 'newly independent Republic of Indonesia
(RI)'s capital was Jogjakarta and it's main territory was just about the islands of Java
and Madura. Does it ever make any sense that a revolt in Moluccas can be said as
staged against a country whose territory does not include Moluccas? This is not a
matter of loyal or disloyal to the Dutch but a realization of the Round Table
Convention, among others, that "Moluccans have all the right to recognize themselves
in an independent nation, whose relation to the Netherlands or the RI is a subject of
freedom of choice.
As expected, Republika, an Islamic based newspaper, appears to support Indonesia's
government false account saying (April 18, 02) "the RMS was led by Dr. Soumokil, a
member of Koninklijk Nederlands Indisch Leger (KNIL), a military legion, who declared
the independent of the RMS, but was crushed by Indonesian arm forces (TNI).
Republika's dishonesty or its ignorance about the history facts can be easily
pin-pointed with a question, "Why had such a rare well educated person in that time
to become a military personnel to fight for the Dutch?" Mr. Soumokil had never been a
member of any military group!
Being confronted by so many insincere statements from high rank government
officials and military commanders , any decent Muluccan may look at Mosques and
Churches hoping to see the truth coming out from there. To his/her great surprise, the
religious leaders who are supposed to bring a fresh wind to the tormented province,
have even made their contributions to drown Moluccan people in the flood of
deceitfulness.
Solahuddin Wahid (The Jakarta Post, April 17, 2002), former president Abdurrahman
Wahid's brother, concurred and said Maluku Christians were not supporters of the
South Maluccan Republic (RMS) secessionist group, and Maluku Moslems were not
supporters of Laskar Jihad. This is a very deceiving message to have come form a
religious leader like Solahudin Wahid. He deliberately misled many to the way of
believing that the RMS supporters should all be Moluccan Christians, as it has only
been Moluccan Moslems who support Laskar Jihad. In fact, anyone can easily see
that even the FKM includes Moslem who is the chairman of the regional FKM of
Europe, from every International message of FKM (FKM, Press Release, April 18,
2002 : Dr. A.H Manuputty, Executive Chairman; Semmy Waileruny, Esq. Judicial
Chairman; B.N.Tamaelasapal, Grass Roots / Legislative Leader; Drs. Luis Risakotta,
Chairman, FKM Jakarta; UMAR SANTI (JL), Chairman, FKM Europe; Helmi
Wattimena, Chairman, FKM-USA FKM-USA, WOW Task-Force).
In meeting the provincial officials, Chief of the largest Islamic Organization in
Indonesia, the Nahdatul Ulama (NU), Hasyim Muzadi asserted that 'Laskar Jihad,
Laskar Mujahidin and Islam Defender Front of Indonesia (FPI), as an example, are
actually accepting Malino Peace Agreement and therefore, refused to be regarded as
hard-liner Islamic groups (Liputan6.com, April 17,02). Should this be called a lie, then
this is a very poor quality one. Anyone wouldn't have to even think about this! Just visit
the web site of Laskar Jihad (http://www.laskarjihad.or.id) and throw Muzadi's
assertion to the garbage.
To the Jakarta Post (April 18,02), Muzadi said he strongly believed that the opposition
groups, including Laskar Jihad, the Islam Defenders' Front (FPI) and the Mujahidin, as
well as the Christian militia groups, would accept the peace accord should they be
sincerely involved in new talks. He further stated that "RMS was the most extreme
group rejecting the peace accord, something which, he added, the government must
seriously deal with. "This group is the source of the disturbances in Maluku. It's the
real renegade there," he added." Here comes the question: "Who then would be the
'Christian militia groups', other than the FKM or RMS?" Looking down at what so
called "Laskar Kristen" or "Laskar Kristus", one would not find an established
organization such as the FPI or Laskar Jihad! On what aspect did Muzadi call the
RMS 'the most extreme group rejecting the peace accord'? Military or Political
aspect? If the RMS is a militia group, then what prevents Muzadi from suggesting a
sincere talks to them? In the RMS is a political group, then they should have the most
privilege to the talk, and this is also stated by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hari
Sabarno. Where is Hasyim Muzadi leading us?
Jakarta Post reported that, "However, Muzadi said that what the opposition groups
were demanding was not clear as regards the efforts to restore peace in Maluku. "The
only thing that is clear is their demands for legal action against those involved in the
Jan. 19, 1999, attack on Muslims." One day latter, Hasyim Muzadi said at a press
conference that, (Jakarta Post, April 19, 02) "the government should not hesitate to
act against any side or extreme group who attempted to stray from the tenets of the
Malino peace agreement that gained support from a majority of the people in the
province. Separatism is a source of conflict in Maluku. The separatist movement has
been trying to manipulate religious tension between Muslims and Christians to
produce and exacerbate conflicts in Maluku"
It is crystal clear now that Hasyim Muzadi is manipulating people's minds to believe
that the source of the conflict is the separatism movement of the RMS! He purposely
brought up the fabricated account about the January 10, 1999 attack on Moslems, to
twist the fact that it was Christian quarters of Mardika and Silale in Ambon, that were
first set on flame by Moslems mobs. Muzadi is trying to fit the "national frame' to the
RMS or FKM as a Christian initiator of the conflict. It should be a political conflict
where Indonesia's government and Moslems are victims of Christian RMS desires for
an independent country, and all Islamic based militias and the Indonesian armed
forces are decent national unitary defender. What a religious leader!
Even so, Muzadi's acts is understandable for he is a Moslem. But when it comes to
what some Christians leaders like Rev, Ismantoro from the KWI (Catholic) and Rev.
Yewangoe from PGI (Protestant) who completely ignored the existence of Moslem
militias lika Laskar Jihad in Moluccas and tried so hard to be a tolerant colleagues of
Muzadi's group by blaming the RMS and Christians for causing turbulences in
Moluccas, then this hypocrisy is just too much to talk about.
Up to this stage, it is obvious that there is absolutely nothing left for Mollucan
Christians in general and those involved in FKM or RMS to defend themselves, but to
helplessly wait for the doom day when they will be lawfully made suffered and
slaughtered by the "Indonesian national unitary defender" composed of the armed
forces (TNI) and Police (Polri), Indonesia's government and legalized Islamic militias.
First attempt has been made by TNI as reported by the FKM: "FKM, Press Release,
April 18, 2002, However this peaceful action was marred by the infiltration of two
members of TNI (Indonesian military) carrying guns and grenades with a sole objective
to throw the grenades and explode it among the people holding the peaceful
demonstration. However God has a different plan. Fortunately the people were able to
out-muscled the two terrorists and have the police settle the case. Unfortunately, after
negotiation between the police and the Chief military command of Maluku the two
military men were released." Why are there no other source that come up with this
kind of report? Are they afraid of something?
A couple of days ago (Tempo, April 21, 02), the Army Strategic Commander,
Ryamizard Ryacudu publicly announced that there are certain foreign countries that
want Indonesia to break apart into small countries. They create similar scenarios for
Acheh, Moluccas and Papua by wrapping up the issues linking the Indonesian armed
forces and human rights abuses into an economy and political package. The
Moluccas Civil Emergency Authority banned the foreigners, foreign NGOs and foreign
press from entering Moluccas for they are suspected to have relationship with the
FKM and the RMS. Since most of these foreign organizations are from European and
American countries, it is evident that Indonesia's government and armed forces (TNI)
are trying to force the 'separatism frame' to Mollucan Christians.
Chief of Special Investigation Team, established by Moluccas Civil Emergency
Authority, is seen to have been confused himself in what should be the proper charge
for Mr. Manuputty in planning to raise the flag of the RMS. Sr. Comr. Jhony
Tangkudung said that "this time, he (Mr. Manuputty) has been charged with breaching
Article 106 of the Criminal Code on treason," (Jakarta Post, April 22, 02). When
asked about why Mr. Manuputty arrested, Tangkudung said: that "He (the suspect)
has violated the ban by the Maluku civil emergency authorities on FKM activities, had
planned to raise the separatist RMS flag, and had caused unrest among people in
Ambon and Maluku in general". Imposing the Article 106 of the Criminal Code on
treason requires a full legal elaboration on the term 'treason'. In doing so, Indonesia's
government cannot simply ignored the facts about the RMS and would have to go
back to around the year of 1950 when the 1945 Constitution was ineffective. This will
undoubtedly bring Indonesia's government into an enormous trouble. For this reason,
Indonesia's government had once avoided to impose Article 106 in Mr/ Manuputty's
trial in 2001, for raising the RMS's flag. Is Indonesia's government really using Article
106 this time? It remains uncertain, especially when the present situation in
Kudamati, a well known Christian neighborhood, is considered.
Satunet (April 22, 02) reported that several Moluccan representatives paid a visit to
the Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare, Jusuf Kalla, in Jakarta saying that the
FKM should nt be allowed to be executed its plan in raising the flag of the RMS on
April 25, 02, since it would raise the tension and promote unrest among Moluccans.
Do these delegates really care about Moluccans' well being? This question may not
need an answer when we realize who are these delegates! They are all retired army
generals such as Suaidi Marasabessy, Ade Picaulima and Leo Lopulissa. Can a
slave serves two masters? How can Suaidi Marasabessy tell the truth concerning the
RMS while he is supposed to face a trial for promoting and spreading the issues of
the RMS in Moluccas while instructing Moslems in Al Fatah Mosque and Galunggung
area to produce hundreds of RMS's flag (to be smuggled into Christians areas)?
Recent situation in Maluku, specifically Ambon, has developed into certain level that
there would only be physical actions taken to repress the FKM and Article 106 would
only be an old song which never be sang. The Moluccas Civil Emergency Authority
has recognized a group called or "National Unitary Defender" in Ambon. T-shirts
labeled "I love Indonesia' or "Support the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) have
been printed and distributed amongst Christians, especially in Kudamati, where Mr.
Manuputty's home and office are. It is not surprising that this National Unitary
Defender comprises many ex-gang members from Jakarta, like Berty Loupatty, but
was backed by the Special Army Unit (KOPASUS) that has positioned many of its
posts in Kudamati area. This KOPASUS had also persuade certain Christian quarters
to its action in preparing physical respond to the FKM's flag raising activity. Some of
the ex-gang members who joined the National Unitary Defender group are planning to
throw an all night long party in Kudamati, on April 24, 02. It is suspected that the
party will serve as a camouflage to the group consolidating activities towards April 25,
2002. It is now understood that many Ambones are so worried that there will be a
massive bloodshed amongst Moluccan Christians, refereed by KOPASUS, or be a
brutal mass execution on Moluccan Christians by KOPASUS itself. The prohibition of
all foreign and domestic medias has so much to say about this anticipated mass
massacre (NO witness!).
So much for a government who claimed to have every right in crushing the RMS, it
called a Moluccan separatist group (now Moluccan Christians separatist group), in
1950. It is a pity to learn that Indonesia's government could not even produce scientific
and legal evidences to defend the country's legitimacy. In is a simple undeniable truth
that Moluccans as well as Achehnes and Papuans have every legal right to
distinguish their uniqueness and to have freedom to chose what they believe to be the
best for them. Having absolutely nothing to take legal action against the Moluccans,
Achehnes and Papuans, Indonesia's government would rely on physical measures to
silence these people. These areas would have to be under a tight control of
Indonesia's government, military and police force. Therefore, continuous unrests in
these areas would be a primary need for Indonesia's government, military and police
force, and there where Laskar Jihad comes into the picture. They have been to, and
still are in Moluccas, Acheh and Papua, while their commander, Ja'far Umar Thalib
has received authorization to be all over the riot-torn area of Poso spreading his
typically poisonous preaches. In Moluccas, the facts about the origins, masterminds,
and supporters of the conflict has been twisted to frame the FKM and RMS, as
Christians separatism groups, which scares Indonesia's government away from taking
any legal action, lat alone an International one, against them. Moluccans will have to
suffer due to the continuations of the unrest specially arranged to cover Indonesia's
crimes against humanity! There will surely be many more "Theys Eluway" in Papua,
more "Febianus Tibo" in Poso, and so are victims of human rights abuse in Acheh
and many other part of this country.
The above title is consequently, stays! Indonesia has been successfully maintained
its unity by dishonesty, hypocrisy and force! The unity will remain as long as the
motto, "Kill them before they grow" remains applicable and undetected. Only God
knows how long this agony will persist, but I know Indonesia is not final! How can a
country last while its own government is incapable of giving legal evidences to prove
its legitimacy?
Greetings,
JL.
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