AMBON, KOMPAS.com - Maluku Police spokesman Adjunct Senior Commissioner Johanes Huwae has denied a circulating rumor that two self-proclaimed Republic of South Maluku (RMS) flags were seized on Sunday. It was rumored on Sunday morning that the police had confiscated two RMS’ Benang Raja flags at Gonzalo area in Karang Panjang, Sirimau sub-district in Ambon.
"No RMS’ flags are confiscated by the police. It was only an issue provoking irresponsible parties in Ambon to create chaos in the city," Huwae said on Sunday evening.
He said the self-proclaimed republic of South Maluku was founded on April 25, 1950, but the date was not observed in Ambon on Sunday, April 25, 2010, and no flags were hoisted.
"It has been rumored since Sunday morning that the police have seized two RMS flags but in reality the rumor is not true," Huwae said, adding that security and order in Ambon remained conducive and the people carried out their daily activity as usual.
Therefore, he called on the people to continue to maintain the security and order because it was prerequisite to speed up the development in Maluku.
"People in Maluku should maintain the security and order in the run-up to international marine event of Sail Banda 2010 scheduled to last from April 17 to August 17 this year," Huwae said.
He said Maluku Police have assigned at least 340 men to do the duties in "Operation Merah Putih" to ensure public order and security in the province.
"Operation Merah Putih is a regular activity of the police in Maluku to create a conducive security situation in the province in April to anticipate the intention of certain parties to fly the separatist ’Republic of South Maluku (RMS)’ flag," Huwae said.
Maluku Police had since 2005 arrested hundreds of supporters and sympathizers of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) who wanted to help RMS hoist the separatist flag every April 25.
Meanwhile, Pattimura Military Commander May.Gen. Hatta Syarifuddin on a separate occasion said security situation in the province remained conducive, safe, and under control.
"For the people of Maluku, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) is a fixed price, and RMS is a past history," Syarifuddin said.
