Maluku governor bans FKM activities

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Administrator of the civil emergency status in Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina issued a decree to ban the activities of the separatist Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) on Monday in a bid to maintain the improving security situation in the strife-torn province.

Governor Saleh Latuconsina told a press briefing here that the authorities considers the activities of the organization, carried out in Maluku and outside the province, hostile and provocative against the government.

"We are only being vigilant against attempts to create disorder and disintegration among the people. Our situation here is improving and the local government do not want to see such a group tarnish long-term efforts to maintain a conducive security situation here," he said.

FKM claims to be a political group and has stated their aim to separate from the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia, Latuconsina added.

The prohibition included a ban on the hoisting of the group's flag known as the flag of the South Maluku republic (RMS).

FKM plans to commemorate the unrecognized independence proclamation of RMS on April 25, during which they intend to hoist the separatist flag.

The ban on the organization from holding any activities in his province was endorsed in decree No. 9/PDSDM/IV/2001.

With the issuance of the decree, Latuconsina said subsequent orders were given for the Maluku Police, military and provincial prosecutors to act on their task to apprehend and question those breaching the decree.

When asked to comment on the decision issued by the civil emergency administrator, FKM chief executive Alex Manuputty insisted that the front would fight to achieve the goal set by RMS to win the sovereignty of Maluku people.

"We will fight through diplomacy and lobbying of international human rights groups, the United Nations and the Senate of the United States."

Manuputty said his group was widely supported by Maluku people living in the Netherlands.

Governor Saleh also announced on Monday that the local authorities had decided to reduce the hours stated in the curfew imposed on June 1, 2000 (10 p.m. (local time) to 6 a.m.), to midnight until 5 a.m. daily.

Starting on Monday, nightspots in Ambon, which were closed down due to intermittent conflicts, were also allowed to open until 11:30 p.m. (49/emf)