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Suspected
RMS rebels arrested in Ambon
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The
Jakarta Post
April
21, 2003
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Suspected RMS rebels arrested in
Ambon
National News - April 21, 2003
Azis Tunny,
The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Maluku
The police arrested nine suspected
members of the South Maluku Republic (RMS) secessionist movement
on Saturday, including its alleged armed forces commander, just
one week before the rebels celebrate their anniversary on April
25.
The nine were identified as Jhon
Rea, the alleged RMS armed wing commander, Piter Rea, Johanis
Tuhuteru, Jefri Soulisa, Yoseph Lesnussa, Elisa Roberto
Mathenahoruw, Reinhard Nanlohy, Philipus Nurlatu, and Sandi
Lalopua.
The arrests were made in a house in
the Batuh Gajah Atas area of Ambon at around 9 p.m. on Saturday.
Ambon and Lease islands police
chief Adj. Sen. Comm. Teguh Budi Prasojo told reporters on Sunday
the nine were arrested while holding a secret meeting in the house
of Jhon Rea to discuss plans to hoist the independence flag on the
movement's anniversary.
"They were arrested while
holding a secret meeting. We will continue tracking down those
involved in the banned organization," said Teguh.
Teguh said the police also
confiscated documents detailing the RMS's activities in Maluku and
the Netherlands as evidence.
The nine, according to Teguh,
denied any link with the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) which had
openly announced its plan to hoist the independence flag on April
25. The FKM is headed by Alexander Manuputty, who was sentenced to
three years in jail for subversion.
Separately, a soldier opened fire
on a suspected supporter of the RMS in the Kudamati area of Ambon
after he refused to be searched during a security operation in the
area.
The security authorities, including
the police, have issued warnings against the hoisting of the RMS
flag on April 25. They have pledged to get tough against anyone
participating in such a flag-hoisting.
People loyal to Dutch colonial rule
declared the establishment of the Republic of South Maluku in 1950
and staged a revolt against the newly independent Indonesia.
The rebellion was suppressed but
activists, mainly in the Netherlands, launched a failed campaign
for international recognition.
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