Ambon separatist arrested for treason
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post/Ambon
Alleged separatist Semmy Waeleruny was arrested on Friday on treason charges, only a day after arriving in Ambon from Jakarta.
"We have named him a suspect because there is enough evidence suggesting that he has been involved in subversive activities," said Ambon and Lease Islands Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Leonidas Braksan.
Semmy, an alleged executive of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), was detained by police upon his arrival at the Ambon airport on Thursday morning. Officers took the suspect to police headquarters, where Semmy was questioned until Friday.
Police searched Semmy's house in Ambon after the arrest and uncovered documents allegedly linking him to the separatist group FKM, which has for years sought to establish an independent South Maluku Republic (RMS).
Among the documents reportedly seized from the suspect's house was a speech written by self-exiled FKM leader Alex Manuputty, which was supposed to be distributed to FKM members during the 54th anniversary of the self-proclaimed RMS on April 25 last year. Other uncovered documents included a thesis arguing that RMS is a legal state, an RMS proclamation and several pictures on FKM's activities.
Police also found an SMS on Semmy's cellular phone that had been sent to alleged FKM member Izack Sapulette, stating that Semmy would lead a flag-raising ceremony to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the self-proclaimed RMS on April 25.
In the SMS, Semmy, who was in Jakarta at the time the message was sent, also told Izack, who was in Ambon, that the anniversary celebration should be delayed if it was impossible to hold on April 25.
"In the SMS, Semmy asked Izack to invite foreign journalists to cover the RMS anniversary celebration," said Leonidas.
Another SMS reportedly revealed that Semmy led an FKM meeting in Makassar on April 13. In the meeting, Semmy told Izack to prepare three locations in Ambon where FKM members could celebrate the RMS anniversary.
Izack is reportedly a bodyguard for Holly Manuputty, the wife of Alex Manuputty, who is currently living in the U.S. Izack was arrested in Ambon last week on charges of subversive activity.
He was one of some 50 suspected FKM members arrested for subversion since early this year.
Semmy's wife, Else Titaley, denied her husband was guilty of treason.
She said the documents found by police in her house on Thursday were old documents that Semmy already had been jailed for, and had nothing to do with the criminal charge that Semmy was involved in the RMS anniversary celebration this year.
Two years ago, Semmy, along with Alex Manuputty, was sentenced to three years in prison by a Jakarta court for treason.
Semmy was recently released after receiving a sentence reduction. According to Else, Semmy returned to Ambon on Thursday to visit his three daughters.