Detention of FKM chief protested

AMBON, Maluku (JP): One hundred people marched to the Maluku Police Headquarters in Batumeja on Friday to protest Thursday's arrest of Alex Manuputty, chief executive of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM).

Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani received the demonstrators and explained why the police had detained Alex. According to Firman, FKM had positioned itself as a political organization separate from the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.

"It has also falsified important documents. The police investigation has developed and indicates that Alex should be arrested as a key suspect," Firman said.

"The security personnel cannot condone any separatist actions. This is a national commitment, which has been agreed upon by both Muslims and Christians nationwide. That's final."

There have apparently been indications that FKM has links to a separatist group which wants to proclaim the independence of the South Maluku Republic (RMS).

Firman said, however, that at a recent meeting between himself, Governor Saleh Latuconsina and Alex's lawyer it had been decided that Alex's detention would be delayed.

Local figure Noke Mailoa, who was among the demonstrators, said that the detention of Alex was a discriminative act by the police.

"There has been no legal evidence that Alex will commit rebellious actions. Yet another group which has made slanderous statements or taken action against President Abdurrahman Wahid has not been touched by the police. How far can the police and administrator of the civil state of emergency (the governor) see the human rights violations in other parts of the province, including Kesui and Teor islands?"

Responding to the criticism, Firman said that all cases were treated equally. "But there are times when the police cannot take prompt action due to legal obstacles. There are cases that are difficult to complete due to the absence of evidence and witnesses. Therefore, we cannot simply arrest people believed to be the suspects. The police are not discriminative."

After meeting with the protesters, Firman told reporters that Sanana Police chief First. Insp. Suganda, 35, had been found dead on a Thai fishing boat on Friday.

The boat was sailing toward Southeast Maluku waters when intercepted by water police, said Firman, adding that Suganda, along with two subordinates, was reported missing during patrol in North Maluku waters last week.

"He had a gunshot wound in the chest, while the rest of the body was covered in bruises," Firman said.

He said he had instructed the North Maluku Police chief to arrest the crew of the boat.

He did not say how many people were on the boat.

Meanwhile, Adj. Sr. Comr. Hasanudin, chief of Ambon and Lease Islands Police, said that two people reported missing on Thursday had yet to be found.

"The disappearance of Noce Wattimena and Yusuf Anakotapary began when a truck hit the two, who were on a motorcycle in front of a mosque in Batumerah. It was not a serious collision, but their relatives reported the two had been missing since then," Hasanudin said. (49/sur)