Maluku Muslims against FKM's move

AMBON, Maluku: The Muslim community in Maluku voiced their rejection of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM)'s demand for Maluku's independence from Indonesia which the group declared in Ambon on Dec. 18, 2000.

In a communique titled "The 2001 Statements", dated Jan. 5, 2001, the Muslim community said the FKM's declaration for independence was not a democratic way to solve the prolonged sectarian dispute in the province.

FKM is reportedly planning to commemorate the separatist group Republic of South Maluku (RMS)'s "independence declaration" on April 25 this year.

"This is merely an effort to disrupt the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia."

Most of RMS' members are reportedly living abroad.

The communique was signed by the chairman of the Maluku branch of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) Malik Selang, secretary of the working group of MUI Maluku Idrus Tatuhey MS of the Muhammadiyah Maluku branch office; I.E. Toekan, the Maluku branch chairman of the Indonesian Muslims Intellectual Association (ICMI); and Rifai Ambon, chairman of the provincial branch of Islamic Propagation Council (MDI).

More than 50 Muslim organizations also signed the communique.

The Muslim community also said that there had been systematic efforts to maintain bloody conflicts in the province by a group of people claiming to represent the Maluku people. "However, these people have made the Indonesian Military, police, and the Lasykar Jihad (Jihad Force) scapegoats."

Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina said reports on the FKM's declaration of independence might be untrue. "I have instructed the police chief to question the FKM's 'independence declaration' signatories."

Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani said FKM chairman Alex Manuputty had been questioned. "No single Maluku person declared independence from Indonesia on Dec. 18, 2000," Firman said. (49/sur)