Ambon Muslims surrender weapons<\/p>\n
Oktianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon<\/p>\n
A group of Muslims in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon on
\nSunday surrendered a large quantity of weapons and explosives to
\nthe security authorities in what they called a gesture of
\ngoodwill to end the prolonged conflict that has claimed 6,000
\nlives and displaced more than 750,000 people over the last three
\nyears.<\/p>\n
The Forum for Muslim Maluku Brotherhood, including members of
\nthe extreme Lasykar Jihad group, surrendered one cannon, one MK-3
\n250 bomb, 100 petrol bombs, 15 homemade guns and hundreds of
\nrounds of ammunition, sabers and bayonets. The guns included
\nstandard weapons used by the Indonesian Military (TNI).<\/p>\n
The weapons were handed over to Brig. Gen. Mustopo, chief of
\nthe Pattimura Military Command, by the Forum's chairman Muhammad
\nAttamimi at a ceremony in Kebun Cengkeh subdistrict in the city.<\/p>\n
Attamimi said the weapons were only part of what they
\npossessed and that the security authorities should also be
\nserious in dealing with both the South Maluku Republic (RMS)
\nsecessionist movement and the proindependence Maluku Sovereignty
\nForum (FKM).<\/p>\n
AFP reported that Mustopo welcomed the weapons surrender and
\npledged that the military would support the government's move \"to
\nsafeguard the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia,\"
\nagainst any attempts at secession.<\/p>\n
Abdul Hadi, spokesman for Laskar Jihad in Ambon, said that his
\ngroup would take part in the weapons surrender although he
\nprovided no details.<\/p>\n
He said that the move was in response to a call by Vice
\nPresident Hamzah Haz.<\/p>\n
Haz, who also chairs the largest Muslim party, this month
\nvisited detained Laskar Jihad commander Jaffar Umar Thalib,
\nsparking strong criticism from politicians and legislators.<\/p>\n
An unidentified group attacked the Christian village of Soya,
\nsouth of Ambon, on April 28, killing 13 people. The authorities
\naccused Thalib of having incited the massacre during a sermon.<\/p>\n
Hadi said the surrender of the weapons was decided upon in
\nview of the government's progress in meeting the militia's demand
\nfor an investigation into the mainly Christian Maluku Sovereignty
\nFront (FKM), which it accuses of fomenting the sectarian
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
Police last week flew FKM leaders Alex Manuputty and Semmy
\nWaileruni to Jakarta for questioning. The FKM supports the RMS.<\/p>\n
Manuputty was questioned on Saturday on charges of subversion
\nlinked to the raising of the outlawed RMS flag in Ambon on April
\n25, the anniversary of the founding of the RMS.<\/p>\n
Muslims and Christians in the Maluku islands have fought a
\nbitter civil war over the past three years, leaving thousands
\ndead.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ambon-muslims-surrender-weapons-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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