KYODO NEWS, April 17, 2002
Emergency gov't in Maluku detains pro-independence Maluku
leader
JAKARTA, April 17 (Kyodo) - Local government investigators in Indonesia's riot-torn
eastern island of Maluku on Wednesday detained a pro-independence leader who had
planned to lead a separatist flag-hoisting ceremony next week, the state-run news
agency Antara reported.
Antara said the joint investigating team of the Maluku Civil Emergency Government
took into custody Alex Manuputty, executive chairman of the pro-independence
Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), and confiscated some South Maluku Republic
(RMS) flags.
Manuputty, who is now under police custody, planned to lead the anniversary
commemoration of the Christian-based RMS on April 25 when the RMS flag will be
hoisted.
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.
Since last Thursday, local authorities in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku
have banned most foreigners from entering Maluku until April 30 to prevent
international supporters of the FKM from entering and inflaming the situation.
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, since the latest peace accord was signed on Feb. 14, with Christians and
Muslims agreeing to end mutual attacks, only a few incidents have happened.
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