The Jakarta Post, October 22, 2004
Three suspected FKM members get jail terms
Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
After a trial lasting three months, the Ambon District Court handed down jail terms on
Thursday to three sympathizers of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) separatist
movement after their conviction on treason charges.
Rezon Leatomu got 24 months, while his co-defendants, Philips Patty and Rio
Talabessy, received 16 months each for taking part in an event held by the separatist
movement in April, which sparked renewed violence in Ambon.
Presiding judge Iim Nurahim said that the three had been proven guilty beyond all
reasonable doubt of promoting the cause of an independent South Maluku Republic
(RMS), which they claimed had been in existence since April 25, 1950.
Iim said that the defendants had participated in a ceremony involving the hoisting of
the RMS flag at the house of FKM leader Alex Manuputty in Kudamati district,
Ambon, on April 25, 2004, to commemorate the RMS's 54th anniversary.
The government claims that the event triggered three days of riots in Ambon that
lasted until April 28, killing at least 41 people, mostly shot by "mystery" snipers.
All three defendants were rounded up after the commemoration ceremony or after the
violence had subsided.
A total of 27 people were arrested in connection with the riot. All 27 people were
brought to court, with 10, including the three defendants sentenced on Thursday, been
convicted and sentenced to between 16 months and 24 months in jail.
Of the latest three to be convicted, Rezon received the longest sentence (24 months)
on the grounds that he had "never admitted his guilt".
The violence in April this year was the worst since 2002. Over the years, the
continuing sectarian tensions in the province have claimed the lives of thousands and
forced thousands of others to flee the province.
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