Ambon Muslims surrender weapons
Oktianus Pinontoan The Jakarta Post Ambon
A group of Muslims in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon on Sunday surrendered a large quantity of weapons and explosives to the security authorities in what they called a gesture of goodwill to end the prolonged conflict that has claimed 6,000 lives and displaced more than 750,000 people over the last three years.
The Forum for Muslim Maluku Brotherhood, including members of the extreme Lasykar Jihad group, surrendered one cannon, one MK-3 250 bomb, 100 petrol bombs, 15 homemade guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, sabers and bayonets. The guns included standard weapons used by the Indonesian Military (TNI).
The weapons were handed over to Brig. Gen. Mustopo, chief of the Pattimura Military Command, by the Forum's chairman Muhammad Attamimi at a ceremony in Kebun Cengkeh subdistrict in the city.
Attamimi said the weapons were only part of what they possessed and that the security authorities should also be serious in dealing with both the South Maluku Republic (RMS) secessionist movement and the proindependence Maluku Sovereignty Forum (FKM).
AFP reported that Mustopo welcomed the weapons surrender and pledged that the military would support the government's move "to safeguard the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," against any attempts at secession.
Abdul Hadi, spokesman for Laskar Jihad in Ambon, said that his group would take part in the weapons surrender although he provided no details.
He said that the move was in response to a call by Vice President Hamzah Haz.
Haz, who also chairs the largest Muslim party, this month visited detained Laskar Jihad commander Jaffar Umar Thalib, sparking strong criticism from politicians and legislators.
An unidentified group attacked the Christian village of Soya, south of Ambon, on April 28, killing 13 people. The authorities accused Thalib of having incited the massacre during a sermon.
Hadi said the surrender of the weapons was decided upon in view of the government's progress in meeting the militia's demand for an investigation into the mainly Christian Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), which it accuses of fomenting the sectarian violence.
Police last week flew FKM leaders Alex Manuputty and Semmy Waileruni to Jakarta for questioning. The FKM supports the RMS.
Manuputty was questioned on Saturday on charges of subversion linked to the raising of the outlawed RMS flag in Ambon on April 25, the anniversary of the founding of the RMS.
Muslims and Christians in the Maluku islands have fought a bitter civil war over the past three years, leaving thousands dead.