Maluku bans foreigners for 'security reasons'

Maluku bans foreigners for 'security reasons'

Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

The Maluku civil emergency authorities (PDSDM) have selectively
banned foreigners from visiting the war-torn islands for
"security reasons" ahead of local separatist leaders' plans to
raise a secessionist flag later this month.

Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina, who also serves as chief of
the civil emergency authorities, announced on Thursday that the
islands are now closed to most foreign visitors, especially
overseas journalists and non-governmental activists based in
Indonesia, until April 30, 2002.

"The ban also includes foreign media correspondents or others
who have already been staying in Indonesia," he said.

He added that the decision, however, was not effective for
foreign government officials, who wanted to travel to Maluku on
state duties.

Latuconsina claimed that the travel ban was aimed at
preventing a security problem for foreign visitors as the Maluku
Sovereignty Front (FKM) was planning to hoist its separatist flag
on April 25 to celebrate the movement's anniversary.

The decision was outlined under a PDSDM Decree No. 1025/2002,
which was dated April 10.

It was not clear why it was just made public on Thursday, a
day after the provincial police arrested FKM leader Alex
Manuputty and seized three flag poles standing in front of his
house.

Latuconsina said the decree was issued on the basis of the
outcome of a meeting between the Maluku security authorities and
senior officials from the central government on April 9 in Ambon.

He said that based on an intelligence report, many foreigners
were expected to visit Maluku, possibly with ulterior motives,
during the planned separatist celebration.

The governor also said the detention of Alex was related to
his plan to fly a separatist flag during the event. "The move
violates the ban issued by the Maluku civil emergency authorities
and sparked disquiet among local people," he argued.

Asked about the legal basis to ban the planned hoisting of
separatist flag in Ambon, while similar flags have been allowed
to fly in the rebellious province of Aceh, he merely said: "The
civil emergency authorities have the right to confiscate, summon,
arrest, detain or raid anybody found defying the regulations."

Meanwhile, Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko D.A. said a
joint team of police and military were developing the
investigation into the separatist case against Alex.

However, he did not say whether the detained separatist leader
had been charged with any offense yet.

Alex was picked up by dozens of armed policemen wearing
bulletproof vests at his home in Ambon on Wednesday afternoon.

The arrest sparked a protest by dozens of FKM supporters
outside the local police station on Wednesday. However, there
were no reports of more demonstrations against his detention.

National religious leaders, who concluded a two-day peace
mission in Ambon on Wednesday, urged the government to use Apr.
25 as the right time to crush FKM activists campaigning for the
independent South Maluku Republic (RMS).

Ambonese loyal to Dutch colonial rule declared the RMS in 1950
and staged a revolt against the newly-independent Republic of
Indonesia. The rebellion was finally quashed, but RMS activists,
mainly in the Netherlands, launched a campaign for international
recognition.

The Maluku islands have also been the scene of a three-year
sectarian conflict that has left some 6,000 dead and a trail of
destruction.

Local Muslim and Christian leaders signed a peace accord on
Feb. 12 to end the bloodshed, but problems remain. The RMS is one
of the groups staunchly opposing the pact.