Emergency gov't in Maluku detains pro-independence leader

0 Comments | Asian Political News, April 22, 2002

JAKARTA, April 17 Kyodo

Local government investigators in Indonesia's riot-torn eastern island of Maluku on Wednesday detained a pro-independence leader who had planned to lead a separatist flag-hoisting ceremony next week, the state-run news agency Antara reported.

Antara said the joint investigating team of the Maluku Civil Emergency Government took into custody Alex Manuputty, executive chairman of the pro-independence Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM), and confiscated some South Maluku Republic (RMS) flags.

Manuputty, who is now under police custody, planned to lead the anniversary commemoration of the Christian-based RMS on April 25 when the RMS flag will be hoisted.

The South Maluku Republic was declared in mid-1950 by former soldiers from Maluku who had fought for Dutch colonialists and did not want to join with the new Republic of Indonesia.

The rebellion was quickly put down, but many RMS supporters left for the Netherlands. Some people claiming to be RMS supporters were involved in train hijackings and other incidents in the Netherlands in late 1970s.

Since last Thursday, local authorities in the provinces of Maluku and North Maluku have banned most foreigners from entering Maluku until April 30 to prevent international supporters of the FKM from entering and inflaming the situation.

Conflicts between Muslims and Christians in the Malukus have dragged on for three years. According to official estimates, the discord has claimed more than 5,000 lives from both the Christian and Muslim sides.

In a bid to calm tensions, the government declared a state of civil emergency in the two provinces on June 28, 2000. A number of peace accords that have been formed and signed by both sides failed to stop bloodletting.

However, since the latest peace accord was signed on Feb. 14, with Christians and Muslims agreeing to end mutual attacks, only a few incidents have happened.