Police interrogate 3 RMS suspects

Police interrogate 3 RMS suspects

AMBON, Maluku: Police are interrogating three people suspected
of hoisting the flag of the separatist Republic of South Maluku
(RMS) here in Batugantung.

According to Ambon Police chief Adj. Comr. Teguh Budi Prasojo,
three suspects hoisted the flag at noon on Friday at a house in
Batugantung.

"Police are intensively questioning them to find out the
motive, and to determine who was the mastermind of the flag-
hoisting," Teguh said on Saturday.

Police also confiscated the flag.

"Hoisting a flag other than that of the Indonesian nation,
such as the RMS flag, is considered an act of rebellion and
punishable by law," said Teguh.

The RMS staged a revolt after Indonesian independence, but it
was curbed by the Indonesian Military. Some Ambon residents tried
to revive the movement in the late 1990s, but the authorities
crushed it. -- Antara