Separatist flags fly in Maluku

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.