Top separatist gets nine years in prison

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

The Ambon District Court sentenced on Monday the secretary- general of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), Moses Tuanakotta, to nine years in prison for subversion.

The sentence was six years lighter than what prosecutors had been seeking.

Moses was found guilty of violating articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code for leading a South Maluku Republic (RMS) flag- raising ceremony on April 25, 2004, in front of the residence of FKM leader Dr. Alex Manuputty on Jl. Dr. Kayadoe in Kudamati, Ambon.

The ceremony, which was attended by at least 200 supporters and sympathizers, was held to mark the 54th anniversary of the self-declared South Maluku Republic.

Presiding judge Robert Limbong said the prosecution had proven beyond a doubt that Moses was guilty of subversion and that his actions had threatened the unity of the nation.

"His actions also caused public chaos," the judge said when reading the verdict.

The judge said that since its establishment on June 15, 2000, the FKM had been fighting to separate Maluku from Indonesia. He said the group wrongly regarded the South Maluku Republic as a sovereign territory that gained its independence on April 25, 1950.

The judge said Moses claimed the South Maluku Republic was not only recognized by Christians but also by Maluku Muslims.

"According to the defendant, Maluku has been annexed by Indonesia and its people colonized by Indonesia," he said.

As secretary-general of the FKM, Moses reportedly planned strategies to separate Maluku from Indonesia. His position became more important when FKM leaders Dr. Alex Manuputty and Semuel Waeleruny went into exile in 2003.

Moses invited supporters and sympathizers to attend the RMS flag-raising ceremony with an ad in the Siwalima newspaper on April 19 under the heading: "FKM hopes to raise the RMS flag on April 25."

During the ceremony, FKM activists raised the flags of the RMS and the United Nations side by side. This was followed by Moses reading a declaration of RMS independence written by Alex Manuputty. Those in attendance then sang the RMS national anthem, Hena Masawaya.

"What the defendant did at Kudamati was an attack on the sovereignty of the nation," said Robert.

The government says the event triggered three days of violence in Ambon that lasted until April 28, leaving at least 41 people dead. Most of those who were killed were shot by unidentified gunmen.

Robert said the incriminating factors against Moses included the fact that he had caused a public disturbance, he was not remorseful and he had the stated desire to separate Maluku from Indonesia.

However, the court also took into account the fact that Moses was well mannered during the trial, had never been convicted of a crime before and had a family to support.