|
|
Indonesia orders Islamic paramilitary
group to quit Malukus
|
Agence
France-Presse
Friday
May 10, 2002 |
JAKARTA, May 10 (AFP) - The
Indonesian government has issued a directive ordering the
expulsion of an Islamic militia from the violence-plagued Maluku
islands, the top security minister said Friday.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the five-point directive ordered the
removal of Laskar Jihad and the disbanding of a Christian-based
separatist movement, the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM).
"The Indonesian government has ordered the Maluku provincial
government to firmly deal with both elements, the Laskar Jihad and
the FKM, with the idea of terminating new violence and conflicts
in the region," he told a press conference.
"We are evaluating that both elements are part of the problem
after we have achieved the Malino (peace) agreement. These two
elements are conducting provocation that may create new violence
and conflicts.
"For us, the Indonesian government, the elimination of those
two hardline (groups) is very important and one of the keys in
solving problems in Maluku permanently."
Last Saturday police, with the cabinet's approval, arrested Laskar
Jihad leader Jaffar Umar Thalib over a speech in the Maluku
capital Ambon in which he allegedly incited a deadly attack on
Christian villagers.
The Java-based Laskar Jihad has long been accused of stoking
violence between Muslims and Christians in Maluku since it arrived
in the island chain in May 2000 vowing to wage "holy
war". Security forces made no move to stop their arrival.
Bitter sectarian fighting had broken out in early 1999 and has
since claimed over 5,000 lives.
A state-brokered peace pact in February this year brought a brief
calm to the eastern island chain but it has been undermined by a
series of violent incidents since early April.
The April 28 massacre, in which 13 people were killed, was the
worst bloodshed since the deal was reached.
The directive also orders security authorities to launch
door-to-door raids to disarm militias and their supporters and
calls for an investigation into all crimes during the three years
of bloodshed.
Some Muslims accuse the Christian separatist group of fuelling
violence.
Last month police arrested Alex Manuputty, who heads the Maluku
Sovereignty Front, to foil plans to raise a separatist flag. They
have said that he and 16 supporters who were also held will be
charged with subversion.
vt/sm/casc AFP
|
