Security tightened in Maluku

Security tightened in Maluku

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Authorities have tightened security in Maluku province ahead of
the anniversary of the Republic of South Maluku (RMS)
independence movement on April 24.

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said here on Thursday
that the police were ready to deal firmly with RMS supporters
trying to hoist the separatist flag on April 24.

"We are guarding several places in the province that we think
are possible sites where independence supporters will hoist the
flag, which we will strive to prevent from happening," Da'i said
after a Cabinet meeting here on Thursday.

Despite police warnings against hoisting the independence
flag, over 2,000 RMS supporters have vowed to raise the flag on
the organization's anniversary on April 24, raising fears of
violent clashes between security personnel and the movement's
supporters.

RMS initiated an armed rebellion due to disappointment with
Jakarta in the 1950s, but it was crushed by government troops.

"The police will not hesitate to arrest anybody who insists on
doing so (hoist the flag) as it is against the law," said Da'i,
adding that the police would deal with offenders within the
existing legal framework.

He also called on people not to incite further violence in
Ambon, where a protracted religious conflict had killed close to
10,000 people, mostly innocent civilians, since it broke out in
January 1999.

"We call on the people there not to incite new violence in
Ambon because security in that province has slowly improved,"
Da'i said.

Meanwhile, Maluku provincial legislature chairman Sahubura
said on Thursday that RMS was just a security disturbance
movement that security personnel had to deal with firmly.

He also called on the government to ban the Maluku Sovereignty
Front (FKM), whose members support independence, and deal sternly
with its members in accordance with the law.

FKM was set up in 2000 in protest to the government's failure
to put an end to clashes between Muslims and Christians in the
province.

FKM chairman Alex Manuputty was sentenced to three years in
jail in January for encouraging people to raise RMS flags in
2002. He, however, remains free pending appeal.

Sahubura also urged both the Maluku administration and
security personnel in the province to maintain cohesiveness and
solidarity among people in the province so that both Christians
and Muslims could join hands in dealing with separatists.

He also appealed to the public not to be easily provoked and
to report the whereabouts of separatists to local security
officers.

Earlier, the Muslim community in the province had vowed to
foil any anniversary celebration of RMS next week.

The Islam Defenders Front of Maluku (FPIM) has began pasting
green leaflets on buildings in a predominantly Muslim housing
complex in Ambon, warning the Muslim community of the
secessionist movement.

Such a response has raised fears of renewed religious
conflicts in the province, as virtually all FKM members are
Christian.

FKM secretary-general Moses Tuanakota said that 2,500
supporters of the organization would observe the anniversary by
hoisting RMS flags across the province.