Three FKM supporters get jail terms<\/p>\n
Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon<\/p>\n
After a trial lasting three months, the Ambon District Court
\nhanded down jail terms on Thursday to three sympathizers of the
\nMaluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) separatist movement after their
\nconviction on treason charges.<\/p>\n
Rezon Leatomu got 24 months, while his co-defendants, Philips
\nPatty and Rio Talabessy, received 16 months each for taking part
\nin an event held by the separatist movement in April, which
\nsparked renewed violence in Ambon.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Iim Nurahim said that the three had been
\nproven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt of promoting the cause
\nof an independent South Maluku Republic (RMS), which they claimed
\nhad been in existence since April 25, 1950.<\/p>\n
Iim said that the defendants had participated in a ceremony
\ninvolving the hoisting of the RMS flag at the house of FKM leader
\nAlex Manuputty in Kudamati district, Ambon, on April 25, 2004, to
\ncommemorate the RMS's 54th anniversary.<\/p>\n
The government claims that the event triggered three days of
\nriots in Ambon that lasted until April 28, killing at least 41
\npeople, mostly shot by "mystery" snipers.<\/p>\n
All three defendants were rounded up after the commemoration
\nceremony or after the violence had subsided.<\/p>\n
A total of 27 people were arrested in connection with the
\nriot. All 27 people were brought to court, with 10, including the
\nthree defendants sentenced on Thursday, been convicted and
\nsentenced to between 16 months and 24 months in jail.<\/p>\n
Of the latest three to be convicted, Rezon received the
\nlongest sentence (24 months) on the grounds that he had "never
\nadmitted his guilt".<\/p>\n
The violence in April this year was the worst since 2002. Over
\nthe years, the continuing sectarian tensions in the province have
\nclaimed the lives of thousands and forced thousands of others to
\nflee the province.<\/p>",
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