RMS supporters warned of subversion<\/p>\n
Azis Tunny
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nAmbon, Maluku<\/p>\n
Maluku authorities renewed their warning against the South Maluku
\nRepublic (RMS) separatist movement, saying strong measures would
\nbe taken against those supporting for RMS and its affiliate, the
\nMaluku Sovereignty Forum (FKM), in observance of the separatist
\nmovement's 54th anniversary on April 24.<\/p>\n
\"We will take immediate harsh action against any organizations
\nor individuals providing political and financial support to
\neither RMS and FKM, if the current persuasive approach is found
\nto be ineffective,\" said Maj. Gen. Agustadi, commander of the
\noperation to restore security and order in the province, on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Agustadi was responding to the incident on Tuesday, when an
\nRMS flag was raised in front of an elementary school in Kudamati,
\na stronghold of the RMS, in the Maluku province's capital of
\nAmbon, despite a recent ban by acting governor Herman Sinyo
\nSarundayang.<\/p>\n
He said the police would investigate the incident, after a man
\nwas arrested and questioned in connection to the case.<\/p>\n
\"So far, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for
\nraising the flag; so the police will continue to investigate,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Agustadi, who is also chief of the Pattimura Military Command
\noverseeing security in Maluku and North Maluku, said that
\nsecurity authorities had disseminated circulars in RMS
\nstrongholds in the province via helicopter, calling on the people
\nnot to celebrate the secessionist movement's anniversary because
\nit was against the law.<\/p>\n
\"Those breaching the rule will face subversion charges,\" he
\nadded, and said that a team of security personnel had already
\nbeen deployed to increase security in RMS strongholds, in
\nanticipation of a possible anniversary celebration.<\/p>\n
Last year, dozens of FKM supporters, including FKM chairman
\nAlex Manuputty, were arrested for raising the RMS flag in
\ncelebrating the movement's 53rd anniversary.<\/p>\n
The South Jakarta District Court sentenced Manuputty to three
\nyears imprisonment for subversion; Manuputty is filing an appeal
\nwith the Jakarta High Court.<\/p>\n
The revival of the RMS over the last three years has been an
\nobstacle to the restoration of security and order and the
\nimplementation of the Malino peace agreement, which was drawn up
\nto end the sectarian conflict that broke out on Jan. 19, 1999.
\nMore than 6,000 people have been killed and around 750,000 others
\nhave been displaced during the conflict.<\/p>\n
The extreme group Laskar Jihad has defended the presence of
\nits militiamen in the province to repel the separatist movement,
\nwhich is reported to have won the support of the Christian
\nfaction in Maluku.<\/p>\n
So far, the civilian state of emergency imposed in July 2001
\nhas yet to be lifted because of the sporadic violence in the
\nprovince. The central government has also delayed the
\ngubernatorial election in Maluku for the same reason.<\/p>\n
The next two years will be a crucial period for the province,
\nparticularly in regards its planned gubernatorial election and
\nthe 2004 Indonesian general elections.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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