KYODO NEWS, April 13, 2001 21:25
Foreigners banned from entering Maluku before separatist anniv.
JAKARTA, April 13 (Kyodo) - The Indonesian government has banned foreigners from
entering the riot-torn eastern islands of Maluku until the end of this month in
connection with the anniversary of a separatist group in the region that falls on April
25, the U.N. and an independent crisis center said Saturday.
The Crisis Center Diocese of Amboina said in a press statement that local authorities
in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku have imposed the ban since Thursday in
advance of the planned anniversary commemoration of the Christian-based South
Maluku Republic (RMS).
The South Maluku Republic was declared in mid-1950 by former soldiers from Maluku
who had fought for Dutch colonialists and did not want to join with the new Republic of
Indonesia.
The rebellion was quickly put down, but many RMS supporters left for the
Netherlands. Some people claiming to be RMS supporters were involved in train
hijackings and other incidents in the Netherlands in late 1970s.
''There is a visibly growing tenseness among the Christians in Maluku because of
possible unwanted confrontations around April 25,'' the crisis center said.
The commemoration will be preceded by a congress of the so-called Maluku
Sovereignty Front (FKM) from April 19 to 24.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, however, said ''the FKM
doesn't appear to have wide support but apparently the small group is well organized.''
''The Maluku Christian Church leaders had a meeting Friday and they are expected to
distance themselves from the movement,'' it added.
The U.N. office said the ban has been also applied to foreign nongovernmental
organizations but excludes foreign government representatives. ''The aim was to stop
international supporters of the FKM from entering and inflaming the situation,'' it said.
''There is still an excellent understanding and cooperation between Muslim and
Christian leaders but both community leaders acknowledge upcoming difficulties if the
FKM goes ahead with its plans later this month,'' it added.
Conflicts between Muslims and Christians in the Malukus have dragged on for three
years. According to official estimates, the discord has claimed more than 5,000 lives
from both the Christian and Muslim sides.
In a bid to calm tensions, the government declared a state of civil emergency in the
two provinces on June 28, 2000. A number of peace accords that have been formed
and signed by both sides failed to stop bloodletting.
However, after the latest peace accord was made Feb. 14, when Christians and
Muslims agreed to end mutual attacks, only a few incidents happened.
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