Three FKM supporters get jail terms

Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

After a trial lasting three months, the Ambon District Court handed down jail terms on Thursday to three sympathizers of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) separatist movement after their conviction on treason charges.

Rezon Leatomu got 24 months, while his co-defendants, Philips Patty and Rio Talabessy, received 16 months each for taking part in an event held by the separatist movement in April, which sparked renewed violence in Ambon.

Presiding judge Iim Nurahim said that the three had been proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt of promoting the cause of an independent South Maluku Republic (RMS), which they claimed had been in existence since April 25, 1950.

Iim said that the defendants had participated in a ceremony involving the hoisting of the RMS flag at the house of FKM leader Alex Manuputty in Kudamati district, Ambon, on April 25, 2004, to commemorate the RMS's 54th anniversary.

The government claims that the event triggered three days of riots in Ambon that lasted until April 28, killing at least 41 people, mostly shot by "mystery" snipers.

All three defendants were rounded up after the commemoration ceremony or after the violence had subsided.

A total of 27 people were arrested in connection with the riot. All 27 people were brought to court, with 10, including the three defendants sentenced on Thursday, been convicted and sentenced to between 16 months and 24 months in jail.

Of the latest three to be convicted, Rezon received the longest sentence (24 months) on the grounds that he had "never admitted his guilt".

The violence in April this year was the worst since 2002. Over the years, the continuing sectarian tensions in the province have claimed the lives of thousands and forced thousands of others to flee the province.