Top Maluku separatist nabbed at Ambon airport

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

Ambon Police were holding a top separatist activist on Thursday on suspicion that he is involved in subversive activities.

Semmy Waeleruny, the secretary-general of separatist group the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), was arrested early on Thursday morning shortly after he disembarked from a Lion Air flight from Jakarta that landed in Ambon airport.

A senior police officer said that the police had actually prepared for his arrest few weeks ago, but the plan was aborted as Semmy canceled his visit to Ambon scheduled for April 25.

The date coincides with the 55th anniversary of the South Maluku Republic (RMS), which FKM has been fighting to establish for years.

"Apparently he canceled the visit as security was really tight at that time," said Chief of Ambon and Lease Islands Adj. Sr. Comr. Leonidas Braksan.

The police officer recalled that the separatist leader tried to break his cell phone card in two during questioning after the arrest. However, police personnel foiled the attempt.

He said that police personnel would bring the card to a local telephone operator in order to trace the phone numbers in the card, which are believed to be the numbers of people in Semmy's network.

After the arrest, police personnel also raided Semmy's house on Jl. Pattimura here and searched for any important documents.

As the case is sensitive, there is the possibility that further questioning will be held outside Maluku for security reason, said Leonidas.

Semmy, along with top FKM leader Alexander Manuputty, was sentenced to three years in prison by a Jakarta court two years ago for treason. The court decided that the two would remain free pending their appeal with the Supreme Court.

Manuputty fled to United States where he is still living. Semmy remained in the country to comply with the court verdict.

The South Maluku Republic that Semmy and Manuputty are fighting for, was proclaimed in 1950, five years after Indonesian independence, but was crushed shortly afterward. The effort to revive the South Maluku Republic again gained ground in 1998 when president Soeharto stepped down from office.

After a few years of operations, the government began to take a tougher stance against the FKM, which culminated in the prosecution of Semmy and Manuputty.