Maluku protesters occupy airport on Ternate Island

JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of protesters occupied the airport on Ternate island, north Maluku, on Thursday to demand the immediate division of the province, a witness said.

Ternate Airport security guard Sadikin said over 100 students and locals thronged the tiny airport's apron for about three hours on Thursday morning, delaying the departure of a private airplane hired by a gold mining company.

"They sat on the apron, and the Pelita airplane could not depart until security personnel dispersed the crowds peacefully," Sadikin told The Jakarta Post. The protesters also rallied outside a nearby government office.

Antara reported thousands of people continued to parade around Ternate to press the demand for a partition of the province, where hundreds died in sporadic religious clashes earlier this year.

A group of students also rallied at Governor Saleh Latuconsina's office in the Maluku capital of Ambon. Watched by troops, students representing the Forum for Malolu Kie Raha People's Aspiration (FAMMKR) demanded Saleh provide a progress report on the plan to separate the territory into two provinces.

After an acrimonious exchange, local government employees allowed 10 of the students to meet Saleh in his office.

The governor told the students to refrain from pushing the issue because the plan was still being devised.

"Never resort to actions which pose a threat to both the government or national unity," Saleh said. He was apparently referring to students in Ternate who prevented government officials from working.

In Jakarta, a delegation of Ternate and Halmahera people met the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Abdul Gafur, to demand the legislative body push through the immediate realization of the plan.

Director General for Public Administration and Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid attributed the tension in Ternate to the government's recent decision to postpone the plan to divide the province.

"They are angered by the government's decision to delay the plan until after the general election," Ryaas told the Post. The plan was put on hold due to fears it could disrupt the country's preparations for the June 7 polls.

Ryaas reiterated that the division of Maluku into two provinces and Irian Jaya into three provinces was urgently needed because of their large area.

"It has been very difficult for provincial government officials to reach remote places in the provinces," he said.

The Sukarno government announced plans to divide Maluku into two provinces in 1964, but the plan was not realized.

The bill on the separation of Maluku into North Maluku and Southeast Maluku will be submitted to the House of Representatives for deliberation next week.

Ryaas dismissed speculation that the separation plan for Maluku was triggered by the religious conflict and protests by locals over civil service recruitment which benefited migrants.

"The plan is in line with the enactment of 1999 laws on regional autonomy and financial balance, all of which are aimed at giving more chance for the people of Maluku and Irian Jaya to develop," Ryaas said.

Political expert Mochtar Pabottingi supported the plan and said its delay would only burden the government.(48/das/rms)