JP/3/SOMASI

JP/3/SOMASI

FKM to sue govt over separatist charges

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

The Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) will file a suit against the
government for branding the Front as a separatist movement and
associating it with South Maluku Republic (RMS).

FKM also objects to the government labeling its members as
troublemakers in strife-torn Maluku and its efforts to outlaw the
movement.

According to the head of FKM's team of lawyers, Christian
Rahardjaan, the organization is suing President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as well as head of the Ambon
civil emergency Governor Saleh Latuconsina.

"FKM cannot be associated with RMS as FKM is an organization
that only conveys the aspirations of the Maluku people and their
dissatisfaction over the government's incapability in solving the
conflict in the area," Christian told reporters after visiting
his clients Alexander Manuputty and Sammy Waileruni who are under
detention at the National Police Headquarters on Tuesday.

Unlike RMS, FKM has never declared itself an independent
sovereign country, he added.

Christian, however, did not say when exactly the organization
is going to file the lawsuit.

Manuputty, leader of FKM has been detained by Maluku Police
for a month on subversion charges which carry a maximum
punishment of life in prison according to Article 106 of the
Criminal Code.

Both Manuputty and Waileruni were arrested and brought to
Jakarta following the detainment of Laskar Jihad commander Ja'far
Umar Thalib mid-last month.

Ja'far is accused of inciting violence that triggered the Soya
attack which killed 12 people.

As part of its attempt to solve the prolonged conflict, the
government has ordered that FKM and RMS be disbanded and that
militant group Laskar Jihad be removed from the province.

Some Ambon based non-governmental organizations as well as the
National Moral Movement -- an organization comprising various
religious leaders -- said that the conflict in the area which had
been going on since 1999 was not purely a religious conflict.

Some have pointed to the involvement of military and police
personnel in the conflict, which has worsened the situation.

Following the recent bloodshed at Soya village, the central
government reevaluated the effectiveness of the civil emergency
government there, and decided to send in more security personnel
to help stabilize the area.

Warring factions in Maluku signed a peace deal in February
which has proven to be ineffective.

Governor Saleh Latuconsina has complained that the military
and police forces refuse to cooperate with the civilian
government, thus making efforts to impose law and order even more
difficult.