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RMS
supporters warned of subversion
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The
Jakarta Post April
17, 2003
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RMS supporters warned of
subversion
Azis Tunny,
The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Maluku
Maluku authorities renewed their
warning against the South Maluku Republic (RMS) separatist
movement, saying strong measures would be taken against those
supporting for RMS and its affiliate, the Maluku Sovereignty Forum
(FKM), in observance of the separatist movement's 54th anniversary
on April 24.
"We will take immediate harsh
action against any organizations or individuals providing
political and financial support to either RMS and FKM, if the
current persuasive approach is found to be ineffective," said
Maj. Gen. Agustadi, commander of the operation to restore security
and order in the province, on Wednesday.
Agustadi was responding to the
incident on Tuesday, when an RMS flag was raised in front of an
elementary school in Kudamati, a stronghold of the RMS, in the
Maluku province's capital of Ambon, despite a recent ban by acting
governor Herman Sinyo Sarundayang.
He said the police would
investigate the incident, after a man was arrested and questioned
in connection to the case.
"So far, no group or
individual has claimed responsibility for raising the flag; so the
police will continue to investigate," he said.
Agustadi, who is also chief of the
Pattimura Military Command overseeing security in Maluku and North
Maluku, said that security authorities had disseminated circulars
in RMS strongholds in the province via helicopter, calling on the
people not to celebrate the secessionist movement's anniversary
because it was against the law.
"Those breaching the rule will
face subversion charges," he added, and said that a team of
security personnel had already been deployed to increase security
in RMS strongholds, in anticipation of a possible anniversary
celebration.
Last year, dozens of FKM
supporters, including FKM chairman Alex Manuputty, were arrested
for raising the RMS flag in celebrating the movement's 53rd
anniversary.
The South Jakarta District Court
sentenced Manuputty to three years imprisonment for subversion;
Manuputty is filing an appeal with the Jakarta High Court.
The revival of the RMS over the
last three years has been an obstacle to the restoration of
security and order and the implementation of the Malino peace
agreement, which was drawn up to end the sectarian conflict that
broke out on Jan. 19, 1999. More than 6,000 people have been
killed and around 750,000 others have been displaced during the
conflict.
The extreme group Laskar Jihad has
defended the presence of its militiamen in the province to repel
the separatist movement, which is reported to have won the support
of the Christian faction in Maluku.
So far, the civilian state of
emergency imposed in July 2001 has yet to be lifted because of the
sporadic violence in the province. The central government has also
delayed the gubernatorial election in Maluku for the same reason.
The next two years will be a
crucial period for the province, particularly in regards its
planned gubernatorial election and the 2004 Indonesian general
elections.
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