Maluku rebel flag hoisted<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku: Tension gripped the islands of Ambon on
\nWednesday following the hoisting of a separatist flag by the
\nMaluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) earlier in the day.<\/p>\n
A brief 10-minute flag-hoisting ceremony took place at the
\nhouse of FKM leader Alex Manuputty in the Kudamati area of
\nNusaniwe district around 7 a.m. but shortly afterwards the flag
\nwas pulled down by police.<\/p>\n
The red-white-blue-and-green FKM separatist flag was hoisted
\nalongside the Indonesian National flag and a United Nations
\npennant.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the morning, a crowd of some 100 FKM followers
\ngathered at Alex's house, singing songs Hena Masawaya (Mother of
\nNation) and reading the 1950 declaration of South Maluku Republic
\n(RMS).<\/p>\n
Tension gripped Maluku, the capital of Ambon, as business and
\ntransportation were halted on Wednesday amid fear of chaos
\nfollowing the separatist flag-hoisting.<\/p>\n
Civil Emergency chief Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina
\nseparately asserted on Wednesday that stern measures will be
\nimposed to those who violate existing regulations.<\/p>\n
\"It is stipulated in the civil emergency decree and the
\nCriminal Code that any separatist movement, including FKM and the
\ndisplay of separatist attributes are forbidden.<\/p>\n
\"So what he (Alex) did is a flagrant violation to the law and
\nhe knows the consequences,\" Latuconsina said in his office later
\nin the day.<\/p>\n
Governor Latuconsina further urged all Muslims and Christian
\ncamps to stay calm and to refrain from being provoked by the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
\"It's clear that there are certain parties who still wish to
\nstir chaos in Maluku. This (separatist flag-hoisting) incident is
\none of those such provoking actions.\" (49\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maluku-rebel-flag-hoisted-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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