Megawati orders the weeding out of RMS<\/p>\n
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri ordered here on Saturday the
\neradication of the separatist group, the South Maluku Republic
\n(RMS), blamed for renewed clashes in Ambon last month, as Muslim
\nprotesters greeted her visit.<\/p>\n
"All forms of separatism should be wiped out because they
\nthreaten the Unitary Republic of Indonesia. Firm action should be
\ntaken against them in accordance with the law," she said at a
\nmeeting with religious leaders in Ambon.<\/p>\n
Citing a presidential decree issued in 1950 by then president
\nSukarno, her father, Megawati said the existence of the RMS was
\noutlawed in the country.<\/p>\n
"Currently, there has been an erosion of nationalism with the
\nemergence of separatism; that's why we should maintain unity as
\none nation living within an archipelago," she said.<\/p>\n
The President also said the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM),
\nwhich was founded by the RMS, should not necessarily be
\nassociated with Christians, as Muslims were also activists within
\nthe separatist group.<\/p>\n
The Christian stigma should be lifted from the FKM\/RMS, in
\norder to prevent more religious conflict in Maluku, she added.
\n"The RMS has nothing to do with religion: It's a political
\nmatter, in which a group of certain people wants to break away
\nfrom Indonesia."<\/p>\n
Megawati, who is seeking reelection, said her two-hour visit
\nto Ambon showed she cared about the problems in the troubled city
\nin eastern Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In a one-hour meeting with the President, local people were
\nrepresented by Maluku Indonesian Ulemas Council secretary-general
\nIdris Latuconsina, Ambon Bishop PC Mandagi and Maluku Protestant
\nChurch leader IWJ Hendriks.<\/p>\n
The three religious leaders told Megawati to resolve the
\nconflict in Maluku, including taking firm action against the
\nseparatist group.<\/p>\n
Earlier, however, Mandagi accused soldiers of provoking the
\nrecent riots. Their alleged role was not discussed at Saturday's
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
The RMS was blamed for triggering three days of clashes in
\nAmbon, starting on April 25, the group's anniversary. At least 40
\npeople, including two police officers, were killed, 227 injured
\nand more than 540 houses and schools set ablaze.<\/p>\n
On the arrival of Megawati, who was accompanied by her
\nhusband, Taufik Kiemas, around 100 Muslim protesters staged a
\nrally outside the Maluku governor's office to demand that all RMS
\nactivists be arrested and face the law.<\/p>\n
They urged her to explain the escape of RMS leader Alex
\nManuputty to the United States after his conviction was upheld by
\nthe Supreme Court last year.<\/p>\n
Apart from meeting with the local religious leaders and public
\nfigures, Megawati also inaugurated a number of road, bridge and
\nwater supply projects in the famed Spice Islands.<\/p>\n
As she left for neighboring North Maluku province later in the
\nevening, the protesters and others reestablished roadblocks on
\nmain streets across Ambon after they had been lifted by security
\nforces on Friday.<\/p>\n
Maluku was ravaged by three years of Muslim-Christian conflict
\nthat left more than 6,000 dead until a peace pact was signed in
\nFebruary 2002 to end the violence.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-orders-the-weeding-out-of-rms-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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