Trouble feared in Maluku as RMS anniversary nears
Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Three days prior to the South Maluku Republic secessionist movement's anniversary on April 25, the tension in Maluku, especially the provincial capital of Ambon, is mounting.
Following last week's arrest of Alex Manuputty, the chairman of the Maluku Sovereignty Forum (FKM) -- also a separatist group -- and an executive of the South Maluku Republic (RMS), local authorities have stepped up security and conducted routine patrols in strategic areas both at sea and on neighboring islands in anticipation of any unwanted reaction from the two leaders' supporters.
Maluku Provincial Chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko, said local authorities were prepared to face any possible disturbance on the eve of the RMS anniversary.
"Under the state of civil emergency, we have the authority to take any action necessary to keep and restore security and order," he said.
Hundreds of police and military personnel have been closely monitoring the FKM headquarters in the Kuda Mati area of the city and other subdistricts, such as Gunung Nona and Batu Gajah Hill, where FKM supporters are making preparations for the celebration of their anniversary and holding free speech forums daily.
The police personnel were also stationed at the city's gates to prevent FKM supporters from entering strategic sites or buildings such as the governor's office, the provincial legislative building and the state-run media offices of TVRI television and RRI radio in the city.
FKM supporters had earlier said that despite Manuputty's arrest, they would go ahead with their plan to raise the RMS flag to mark the republic's independence.
"With or without Manuputty, we will raise the RMS flag to celebrate our independence," said an FKM supporter at the provincial police headquarters.
The flag with four colors --red, white, blue and green-- is locally called mena muria which means "no turning back" in the local dialect.
Security authorities also made their presence felt in the subdistricts inhabited by conflicting Muslim and Christian factions in the city, especially Galungung, Halong, Galala and Air Kuning.
"We do not want any infiltrators or snipers to enter the four subdistricts, the home base of both Christian and Muslim communities," said Maj. CAJ Herri Suhardi, spokesman for the Pattimura Military Command overseeing Maluku and North Maluku.
The two-month old Malino peace deal, signed in Malino, South Sulawesi, on February 12, 2002, has now been called ineffective in its aim to end the prolonged sectarian conflict that has claimed more than 6,000 lives since January, 1999, since many factions both from the Christian and Muslim communities do not accept it.
Over the last two months, a part of the governor's office building was burned and several bombs have exploded, claiming several lives.
The peace agreement's effectiveness has also been undermined due to an absence of tough action against trouble makers, especially those from the law enforcement and security forces who have taken sides in the conflict.