The Jakarta Post, May 29, 2002
Maluku front to sue govt over separatist charges
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) will file a suit against the government for
branding the Front as a separatist movement and associating it with South Maluku
Republic (RMS).
FKM also objects to the government labeling its members as troublemakers in
strife-torn Maluku and its efforts to outlaw the movement.
According to the head of FKM's team of lawyers, Christian Rahardjaan, the
organization is suing President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as well as head of the
Ambon civil emergency Governor Saleh Latuconsina.
"FKM cannot be associated with RMS as FKM is an organization that only conveys
the aspirations of the Maluku people and their dissatisfaction over the government's
incapability in solving the conflict in the area," Christian told reporters after visiting his
clients Alexander Manuputty and Sammy Waileruni who are under detention at the
National Police Headquarters on Tuesday.
Unlike RMS, FKM has never declared itself an independent sovereign country, he
added.
Christian, however, did not say when exactly the organization is going to file the
lawsuit.
Manuputty, leader of FKM has been detained by Maluku Police for a month on
subversion charges which carry a maximum punishment of life in prison according to
Article 106 of the Criminal Code.
Both Manuputty and Waileruni were arrested and brought to Jakarta following the
detainment of Lasykar Jihad commander Ja'far Umar Thalib mid-last month.
Ja'far is accused of inciting violence that triggered the Soya attack which killed 12
people.
As part of its attempt to solve the prolonged conflict, the government has ordered that
FKM and RMS be disbanded and that militant group Laskar Jihad be removed from
the province.
Some Ambon based non-governmental organizations as well as the National Moral
Movement -- an organization comprising various religious leaders -- said that the
conflict in the area which had been going on since 1999 was not purely a religious
conflict.
Some have pointed to the involvement of military and police personnel in the conflict,
which has worsened the situation.
Following the recent bloodshed at Soya village, the central government reevaluated
the effectiveness of the civil emergency government there, and decided to send in
more security personnel to help stabilize the area.
Warring factions in Maluku signed a peace deal in February which has proven to be
ineffective.
Governor Saleh Latuconsina has complained that the military and police forces refuse
to cooperate with the civilian government, thus making efforts to impose law and order
even more difficult.
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