Moluccans convicted for treason

AMBON, Maluku: The Ambon District Court in Maluku province sentenced three Christian separatists on Thursday to between 13 and 15 years in prison for treason.

John Latuhihin and Johanis Abraham were jailed for 15 years each, Antara reported. Their colleague Markus Siwabessy was handed a 13-year sentence.

The three belong to the South Maluku Republic (RMS) separatist movement, and were charged for hoisting separatist flags in April last year.

Earlier this month, the same court sentenced nine RMS activists to between 30 months and 15 years in jail for treason.

RMS leader Alex Manuputty fled to the United States recently after he was sentenced by a Jakarta court to three years in prison, along with his deputy Sammy Waileruni, for subversion.

An appeal court in May increased their terms to four years. -- Antara