Despite two bomb explosions, the situation in Maluku,
especially the provincial capital of Ambon, is gradually returning
to normal with locals urging the authorities in charge of the
civil emergency to take stern actions against the South Maluku
Republic (RMS) secessionist movement and its supporters.
Almost all shops and government offices in Ambon that were
closed all day on Thursday reopened on Friday and most students
went to school while hundreds of public transportation vehicles
resumed operations.
Traditional markets in Banteng, Batugantung, Batumera, Gunung
Nona and Kudamati, a stronghold of RMS supporters, were crowded
with traders.
Nona, a student of state-run Pattimura University in the city,
said activities in the campus went on as normal but many students
were absent.
Jemmy, the owner of a telephone kiosk in Batumera, told The
Jakarta Post that despite the tense situation, the majority of
people in the city had resumed daily activities.
"Many residents come to the telephone kiosk to call their
relatives in other provinces about the situation in the
city," he said.
But at least two bombs exploded near a bridge in the city early
on Friday. No casualties were reported.
The city was paralyzed on Thursday when RMS supporters raised
their separatist flags in public places. At least seven people
were seriously injured in a number of bomb explosions. Some 27 RMS
supporters were detained for raising the RMS flag.
Thousands of local Muslims staged a peaceful demonstration to
protest against RMS, the pro-independence Maluku Sovereignty Forum
(FKM) and the absence of stern actions against their supporters
who raised the RMS flag on Thursday.
"Tough actions must be taken against those who raised the
RMS flag," said a protester in a dialog with Maluku Governor
Saleh Latuconsina, Provincial Police chief Brig. Gen. Soenarko and
Pattimura Military Command chief Brig. Gen. Moestopo who toured
the city.
The demonstrators staged the protest on their way to a
gathering at Al-Fatah Grand Mosque in the city.
A news blackout has been imposed but news continues to flow out
of the province which officially remains under civilian emergency
after the outbreak of sectarian conflict.
In Jakarta, Vice President Hamzah Haz said RMS must be quelled
because it was a separatist movement "and it has affected the
country's independence."
He said Maluku authorities should continue to promote the
Malino peace deal and take action against those who opposed it.
Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the largest Muslim organization in
the country, Nahdlatul Ulama, called on the Muslims in Maluku not
to be provoked by those seeking to sow religious conflict.
"Let security authorities handle legal violations,"
he said, adding that all sides should comply with the Malino peace
agreement to end the prolonged conflict