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Government
Urged to Stop ‘Foreign Infiltration’
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Laksamana.Net
July
12, 2002 06:34 PM, |
Government
Urged to Stop ‘Foreign Infiltration’
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Laksamana.Net -
Golkar Party has called on the government to take tough
measures to halt Australian “incursions” into conflict
areas of Indonesia, while Islamic groups are demanding an
American national be deported for converting Muslims to
Christianity.
Head of Golkar’s faction in the House of Representatives,
Marzuki Achmad, said Friday (12/7/02) the recent arrest of
an Australian ship's skipper in possession of munitions in
Maluku province could be seen as evidence of a foreign plot
to support separatist movements in eastern Indonesia.
Australian John Kevin, captain of the Alfred Nobel,
was arrested Wednesday near Ambon, the capital of Maluku,
which has been wracked by deadly religious violence over the
past three years (see Australian
Arrested in Ambon).
“I am afraid that the recent capture of the Alfred
Nobel, a motorized ship flying the Australian flag,
might be the tip of an infiltration iceberg with a hidden
agenda to undermine the integrity of the Indonesian
Republic," Achmad was quoted as saying by state news
agency Antara.
Strong diplomatic and military actions should be taken to
prevent Australia from meddling in Indonesia’s domestic
affairs, he said.
He claimed Australia’s “successful intervention” in
East Timor has apparently encouraged the neighboring country
to interfere in troubled areas of eastern Indonesia, such as
Ambon.
“I also heard that similar activities [of infiltration]
have been launched in Papua [province]. I therefore hope the
government will take strong measures soon. No foreigners
should be allowed to infiltrate our territories," he
said.
East Timor seceded from Indonesia in 1999 with backing from
Australia, while human rights groups in Australia also
support Papua’s separatist movement. The prolonged
sectarian violence in Maluku has prompted a small separatist
movement to demand independence, although it has not gained
significant support from any Australian groups.
Achmad said the Indonesian military’s lack of resources is
no excuse for a foreign nation to intervene in
trouble-spots, as such action could undermine efforts to
maintain national dignity and integrity.
He said House Commission I on defense and foreign affairs
should summon the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) commander
for detailed information on foreign incursions into eastern
Indonesia.
“The House commission should also be informed about the
steps the TNI commander is taking to overcome the
infiltrations,” he added.
Missionary Imposition
Immigration officials in West Sumatra province are planning
to deport an American who converted Muslims to Christianity,
Germany’s Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported Friday.
The report said authorities on May 31 revoked Robert Anthony
Adams' business visa to work on a forestry project after he
angered the Muslim community of South Pesisir regency by
moonlighting as a missionary.
After his work visa was revoked, Adams reportedly returned
to West Sumatra on a 60-day tourist visa and resumed his
efforts to covert Muslims to Christianity.
"Whatever the reasons, Robert Anthony Adams will be
asked to return home in order to prevent any eventual
escalation of horizontal conflicts in South Pesisir regency
and West Sumatra in general," West Sumatra Immigration
Office head Amirul was quoted as saying by dpa.
Antara reported that Adams had been working in the province
as a coordinator of a forestry project funded by Global
Partners, a London-based investment banking firm.
The forestry project has apparently been axed because of the
American’s missionary work.
The report said he had converted 123 local residents to
Christianity. |
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