Separatist flags fly in Maluku
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
At least six people were injured in two explosions and a church was torched in Ambon on Thursday putting a two-month old peace-truce between warring Christians and Muslims in limbo.
Ambon was virtually paralyzed throughout the day as local, mostly Christian separatists fulfilled their vow to fly their flag to commemorate their movement's 52nd anniversary.
The four-colored South Maluku Republic (RMS) flag -- white, blue, green and dominant red -- fluttered in a number of places including in Ambon, nearby Seram, Saparua and Haruku islands.
About 1,000 Muslims gathered on Jl. A.M. Sangadji and marched toward the Trikora statue at 9:30 a.m. in protest of the RMS flag-raising. Maluku military commander Brig. Gen. Mustopo came to pacify them as hundreds of Christians came down from the opposite direction waving the same national flag.
The two groups eventually came face to face. Mustopo appealed to the Christian group to retreat. When they did so a bomb exploded near the Silo church, which was being renovated.
Security officers fired into the air but just at that moment some protesters slipped through the security cordons and torched the church.
The Christians and the Muslims in the Malukus have been at war since January 1999. The government imposed civil emergency rule in the province in September 2000. But the sectarian war, which has cost 6,000 lives and displaced 750,000 others, has gained a separatist tone in recent months.
Another explosion was heard at about 11 a.m. in Rijali subdistrict in Karangpanjang Bawah injuring two civilians R. Molle and N. Aipassa. They are being treated at Bhati Rahayu and GPM hospitals.
Tension gripped the city since 7 a.m. as Ambon streets were practically deserted. Residents were seen assembling in their respective neighborhoods. Office workers and school children readied themselves to go on with their daily activities in the morning but they soon canceled their plans as there was no public transportation.
Tension increased after midday when two clusters of balloons were released carrying about ten RMS flags coming from the hills in the eastern part of the city.
Troops atop multi-storied buildings in Urimesing subdistrict fired shots at the balloons eventually hitting one of them.
RMS supporters had made public their plan to raise their flags in a ceremony in their daily rallies outside police headquarters in Ambon ever since their leader Alex Manuputty was arrested by the government on April 10.
The government has closed the province to foreigners and non- governmental organizations and imposed a news blackout on RMS activities for 20 days as of April 10.
The authorities had secured the leader's neighborhood in Kuda Mati subdistrict in Ambon, a spot most likely to be used by his supporters to hoist the flag.
But soon after midnight on Thursday, police found the flag being hoisted in a number of places including on top of a tree in Telaga Raja hills in Kusu-Kusu Sere village, Sirimau district and at 6 a.m. atop a flag pole in a house on Jl. Pattimura about 50 meters from police headquarters.
Elsewhere in the province, the flags were also found in Batugajah and Waiyori hills in Passo village, on the Central Maluku island of Seram in Waisarisa village, Jerili village and Masohi city. On Haruku island, the flags were found in Aboru and Wasu villages.
Authorities said a total of 27 people had been nabbed in connection with Thursday's incidents.
In Jakarta, President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued an order to take necessary security measures in the restive province.
"The President ordered us to take stern measures against the rioters, but I cannot tell you what kind of measures she was referring to," Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
National Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on the same occasion that the situation in Ambon had been brought under control and that the burning of the Silo Church had provoked Christians to take revenge.
When asked whether stern measures included to shoot on sight, Da'i said: "the order to shoot is in line with procedures to handle a chaotic situation."
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono blamed local authorities for their lack of preparedness.
"I'm very disappointed. There should have been better preparations in securing the area as there have been clear indications that the separatists wanted to raise the flag while the Muslim community had said they wouldn't just stand by," Susilo told reporters after accompanying the President while she received visiting Lao Prime Minister Boun Nhang Voracith.
He said he had received information from Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina of a new provocation from the Muslim community and had instructed local authorities to take necessary measures to prevent further violence.
People loyal to Dutch colonial rule declared the existence of RMS in 1950 and staged a revolt against newly-independent Indonesia. The rebellion was quashed and the movement has since been active mostly abroad.