South China Morning Post, Tuesday, August 20, 2002
Christian leaders face court on treason charges
CHRIS McCALL in Jakarta
LIVE FREE OR DIE
[Alex Manuputty gives the victory sign outside court. Reuters Photo]
Dressed like rock stars, two Christian leaders from Maluku yesterday appeared in
court in Jakarta to answer treason charges.
Alex Manuputty, 54, head of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), is charged with
separatist activities over the flying of the banned flag of the defunct Republic of the
South Moluccas (RMS) on April 25.
Charged with him is Semmy Waileruny, 45, a lawyer who has often acted as a
spokesman for the Christian side in Ambon.
Both men have been held in custody at police headquarters for weeks and face up to
20 years in jail. The case is being watched as an indicator of the government's stance
on separatism and freedom of expression. The FKM says it is an unarmed movement
with support from Muslims and Christians.
In an emotional statement to the crowd before the case started, FKM's Jakarta
representative, Louis Risakotta, compared the situation in Maluku with that in East
Timor before its independence. He condemned Indonesia's military for fuelling the
conflict.
"We are accused of carrying out treason, but in truth who carried out treason?" he
said. "Who sells weapons to the civilian population? Who sells bullets? Don't let us
bow to the tune of Jakarta. FKM did not carry out treason. Treason requires weapons
to bring down the government."
Jakarta denies its armed forces and police took sides in the Maluku conflict, which
has claimed thousands of lives since 1999.
The pair face four charges, including two of treason. They are also accused of ignoring
an order to halt the FKM's activities.
Manuputty, who has long hair and a beard, wore a red, white and black headband and
shining white suit as he arrived to face the charges of trying to separate from the
Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Hefty supporters in dark glasses shouted
"long live Maluku" as the doctor arrived at the North Jakarta District Court.
The FKM has called for a review of the sovereignty of the region, arguing that in law
Maluku was recognised as a sovereign region before Indonesia was. It bases its
argument partly on the historical existence of the RMS, a Christian-dominated
republic set up after the Dutch granted Indonesia independence in 1949. It says the
federal structure of Indonesia was supposed to recognise Maluku as a sovereign area.
The three judges interrupted the defendants and their lawyers, lecturing them like
children. The case was adjourned to Monday, when a defence objection to the
charges will be heard.
Asked if Manuputty would be prepared to go to jail, his lawyer, Victor Nadapdap, said:
"If he is jailed because of his opinion, what can he do about it?"
Copyright © 2002. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights
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