Ambon official fired over website

M. Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Maluku communications and information office head Agus Soukotta has been removed from his post over a local government website, which was considered defamatory toward Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu inaugurated chief spokesman at the provincial secretariat Lien Ulahayanan to replace Agus in a ceremony on Tuesday.

Agus was held responsible for the official website, www.malukuprov.go.id, which also included insinuations that local Muslims were terrorists.

"The decision on the replacement was related to a recent incident, when our website was criticized by Muslims in Maluku. Hopefully, the new official can be more thorough and responsible in overseeing his duties," Karel said after the inauguration ceremony.

However, the governor added that Agus was replaced also because the latter was retiring.

Last Thursday, some 2,000 protesters from several Muslim organizations staged a protest outside the Maluku governor's office against the website's contents.

They demanded the police investigate the case and the website operators, accusing the creators of the site of abusing its function, to condemn and insult a religion.

The controversy came to a head after a local newspaper in Ambon, Info Baru, criticized the website in an article on June 1. The website was later blocked.

The controversial content was discovered on the website's guest book and discussion forum.

One forum contributor states, "... During the 1999-2002 riots, the provocateurs and their motives were not proven. (But) it has been proven that STAIN Ambon is the nest of a Mujahidin (group), which has trained militants in Maluku, The Philippines and in Afghanistan under the Taliban. and it's proven that Islamists have caused the Maluku (conflicts)...."

Other messages were actually much harsh in their tone and accusations.