Lasker Jihad given a month to leave Maluku

Lasker Jihad given a month to leave Maluku

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Maluku authorities have given a one month
deadline to members of the Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah
Muslim group to leave the islands, or face forced expulsion.

The authorities, as well as the councillors, also warned
Laskar Jihad to stay in one place and keep their promise of
carrying out humanitarian activities in the archipelagic
province.

"For even the slightest move that instigates chaos, we will
directly call on all Maluku people, both Muslims and Christians,
as well as security forces, to expel them from the islands,"
Governor Saleh Latuconsina said on Thursday.

The decision was reached during a coordination meeting between
the governor, Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela
and provincial council speaker John Mariloa which took place at
about 11 p.m. on Wednesday.

The meeting was called in response to reports that hundreds of
Laskar Jihad members had entered Maluku unhindered.

Tamaela revealed on Thursday that at least 500 members of the
jihad force had been in Ambon and under the close scrutiny of the
local security forces. Other reports put the number at 1,400.

"The data were obtained from the group's list," Tamaela said,
adding that there were different reports about the exact number
of jihad force members in Ambon.

Since the arrival of the group, Ambon has been tense, with the
sounds of bombs exploding each night.

The administration is also considering a temporary ban on
entry points for passenger ships across Maluku and North Maluku
in a bid to prevent Laskar Jihad from causing trouble.

"I have issued the order to local port officials and am
coordinating the plan with related institutions to ban passenger
ships for a period of one month," Latuconsina said.

Latuconsina said the administration was working on further
arrangements on the port ban, "During that period, only freight
or cargo ships will be able to enter the islands."

Arrangements concerning the removal of the jihad force from
the islands after they completed their activities would be made
later, he said.

The governor expressed surprise and was upset by the way the
Laskar Jihad members clandestinely entered unimpeded into his
jurisdiction.

"As a Muslim and a chief of the administration, I am really
disappointed with and concerned about the way they entered
Maluku, despite an order from the President to deny them entry.
They should have been banned from embarking for this province,"
Latuconsina said.

Tamaela said earlier that security personnel could not ban the
jihad force members because they had not committed any crimes.

Councillor John Mariloa hailed the authorities' move to
tighten the control over the Laskar Jihad members.

"I doubt their humanitarian motives here. They conducted
massive war training in Bogor (West Java) instead of preaching
about religious matters. So it is clear that they have come here
to wage a war.

"We don't want them to create more chaos. Just leave us alone
to settle our business," John said. (49/edt)