Ambon official fired over website<\/p>\n
M. Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon<\/p>\n
Maluku communications and information office head Agus Soukotta
\nhas been removed from his post over a local government website,
\nwhich was considered defamatory toward Islam's Prophet Muhammad.<\/p>\n
Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu inaugurated chief
\nspokesman at the provincial secretariat Lien Ulahayanan to
\nreplace Agus in a ceremony on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Agus was held responsible for the official website,
\nwww.malukuprov.go.id, which also included insinuations that local
\nMuslims were terrorists.<\/p>\n
\"The decision on the replacement was related to a recent
\nincident, when our website was criticized by Muslims in Maluku.
\nHopefully, the new official can be more thorough and responsible
\nin overseeing his duties,\" Karel said after the inauguration
\nceremony.<\/p>\n
However, the governor added that Agus was replaced also
\nbecause the latter was retiring.<\/p>\n
Last Thursday, some 2,000 protesters from several Muslim
\norganizations staged a protest outside the Maluku governor's
\noffice against the website's contents.<\/p>\n
They demanded the police investigate the case and the website
\noperators, accusing the creators of the site of abusing its
\nfunction, to condemn and insult a religion.<\/p>\n
The controversy came to a head after a local newspaper in
\nAmbon, Info Baru, criticized the website in an article on June 1.
\nThe website was later blocked.<\/p>\n
The controversial content was discovered on the website's
\nguest book and discussion forum.<\/p>\n
One forum contributor states, \"... During the 1999-2002 riots,
\nthe provocateurs and their motives were not proven. (But) it has
\nbeen proven that STAIN Ambon is the nest of a Mujahidin (group),
\nwhich has trained militants in Maluku, The Philippines and in
\nAfghanistan under the Taliban. and it's proven that Islamists
\nhave caused the Maluku (conflicts)....\"<\/p>\n
Other messages were actually much harsh in their tone and
\naccusations.<\/p>",
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