Security tightened in Maluku<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Authorities have tightened security in Maluku province ahead of
\nthe anniversary of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS)
\nindependence movement on April 24.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said here on Thursday
\nthat the police were ready to deal firmly with RMS supporters
\ntrying to hoist the separatist flag on April 24.<\/p>\n
"We are guarding several places in the province that we think
\nare possible sites where independence supporters will hoist the
\nflag, which we will strive to prevent from happening," Da'i said
\nafter a Cabinet meeting here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Despite police warnings against hoisting the independence
\nflag, over 2,000 RMS supporters have vowed to raise the flag on
\nthe organization's anniversary on April 24, raising fears of
\nviolent clashes between security personnel and the movement's
\nsupporters.<\/p>\n
RMS initiated an armed rebellion due to disappointment with
\nJakarta in the 1950s, but it was crushed by government troops.<\/p>\n
"The police will not hesitate to arrest anybody who insists on
\ndoing so (hoist the flag) as it is against the law," said Da'i,
\nadding that the police would deal with offenders within the
\nexisting legal framework.<\/p>\n
He also called on people not to incite further violence in
\nAmbon, where a protracted religious conflict had killed close to
\n10,000 people, mostly innocent civilians, since it broke out in
\nJanuary 1999.<\/p>\n
"We call on the people there not to incite new violence in
\nAmbon because security in that province has slowly improved,"
\nDa'i said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Maluku provincial legislature chairman Sahubura
\nsaid on Thursday that RMS was just a security disturbance
\nmovement that security personnel had to deal with firmly.<\/p>\n
He also called on the government to ban the Maluku Sovereignty
\nFront (FKM), whose members support independence, and deal sternly
\nwith its members in accordance with the law.<\/p>\n
FKM was set up in 2000 in protest to the government's failure
\nto put an end to clashes between Muslims and Christians in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
FKM chairman Alex Manuputty was sentenced to three years in
\njail in January for encouraging people to raise RMS flags in
\n2002. He, however, remains free pending appeal.<\/p>\n
Sahubura also urged both the Maluku administration and
\nsecurity personnel in the province to maintain cohesiveness and
\nsolidarity among people in the province so that both Christians
\nand Muslims could join hands in dealing with separatists.<\/p>\n
He also appealed to the public not to be easily provoked and
\nto report the whereabouts of separatists to local security
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the Muslim community in the province had vowed to
\nfoil any anniversary celebration of RMS next week.<\/p>\n
The Islam Defenders Front of Maluku (FPIM) has began pasting
\ngreen leaflets on buildings in a predominantly Muslim housing
\ncomplex in Ambon, warning the Muslim community of the
\nsecessionist movement.<\/p>\n
Such a response has raised fears of renewed religious
\nconflicts in the province, as virtually all FKM members are
\nChristian.<\/p>\n
FKM secretary-general Moses Tuanakota said that 2,500
\nsupporters of the organization would observe the anniversary by
\nhoisting RMS flags across the province.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/security-tightened-in-maluku-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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