Ambon Muslims surrender weapons<\/p>\n
Agence France Presse, Ambon<\/p>\n
Muslims in the riot-hit Maluku on Sunday surrendered hundreds of
\nweapons and explosives to the security authorities.<\/p>\n
The Forum for Muslim Brotherhood of Maluku, which also
\nincludes members of the extreme group Lasykar Jihad, surrendered
\none cannon, 250 bombs, 100 petrol bombs, four army-issue firearms
\nand 15 homemade guns, plus hundreds of rounds of ammunition,
\nsabres and bayonets.<\/p>\n
The weapons were handed over to Maluku military commander
\nBrig. Gen. Mustopo by the Forum's chairman Muhammad Attamimi at a
\nceremony at a mosque in Kebun Cengkeh subdistrict in the city.<\/p>\n
"These weapons are only part of what we have, and the rest
\nwill be surrendered when the TNI (Indonesian Military) and the
\nNational Police have met their promises to comprehensively
\ninvestigate the RMS," Attamimi said, refering to the South Maluku
\nRepublic (RMS) separatist movement.<\/p>\n
Mustopo welcomed the weapons surrender and pledged that the
\nmilitary would support the government's move "to safeguard the
\nunitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," against any
\nsecession.<\/p>\n
Abdul Hadi, spokesman for Laskar Jihad in Ambon, said that his
\nforce 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 Christian Village of Soya,
\nsouth of Ambon on April 28, killing 13 people. The authorities
\naccuse Thalib of having incited the massacre during a sermon.<\/p>\n
Hadi said the weapons surrender was decided in view of the
\ngovernment's progress in meeting the militia's demand for an
\ninvestigation into the mainly Christian Maluku Sovereignty Front
\n(FKM), which it accuses of fomenting the sectarian violence.<\/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 RMS.<\/p>\n
Muslims and Christians in the Maluku islands have fought a
\nbitter war in the past three years, leaving thousands dead.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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