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AMBON: More Than 250 Detained Following Separatist Demostrations
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MISNA
- Missionary Service News Agency
April
30, 2003
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Indonesia
AMBON: More Than 250 Detained Following Separatist Demostrations
Politics/Economy, Brief
Security forces arrested more than 250 people in connection with
flag raising activities on and around April 25, the 53rd
commemoration of the RMS South Moluccas Independence movement. It
was reported to MISNA by the Fathers of the Crisis Centre Diocese
of Amboina, which added that among those arrested, about 150 alone
are from the village of Aboru (island of Haruku east of Ambon).
The father of the crisis centre specify that there is hardly room
for so many detainees. It is now being investigated who among them
are authentic separatists and thus face charges of subversion
and who are those that just wanted to vent their
disappointment with the government. The 25 April has always been a
date at risk for the Indonesian archipelagos, as on that day, 53
years ago, the Christians backed by government of the former Dutch
colony, founded the Republik Maluku Selatan, (Republic of
the Southern Moluccas) and fought for its independence from the
rest of Indonesia, but were however defeated. Despite this the
Moluccans entered to form part of the Indonesian Republic, but up
until today, a Christian separatist movement, the FKM (Front
Kedaulatan Maluku) remains active. Each year, in coincidence with
the anniversary of the RMS, the separatists of the FKM not
recognised by the local Church try to brandish the flag of
their Republic, gesture which is usually punished with
severity on behalf of the local authorities.
[BP]
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