Violations Of Moluccas Rights Continue Unabated

Moordrecht, The Netherlands
July 28, 2007

Gross Violations Of Human Rights Continue Unabated in the Moluccas

On June 29, a group of about 30 unregistered dancers succeeded to bypass the very high security procedures of the commemoration of the 14th Indonesia Family Day in Ambon, Maluku and peacefully express the indefeasible right of the people of the South Moluccas by unfurled the banned separatist flag of the South Moluccas Republic (RMS) in front of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

As confessed the Indonesian agressor reacted with unprecedented cruelty.

President Yudhoyono commissioned to tackle hard the peaceful RMS-activists and punished them as terrorists among other by the US-trained and equipped elite police counter-terrorism team, known locally as Detachment 88 (DENSUS 88).

The previous weeks the Moluccan activists were kept on the bases of police force and army at Tantui and Perigi Lima, where they have been molested in a bestial manner and forced to remain naked in their warrants. Most of them suffer because of internal wounds, contusions and hemorrhages. In these conditions they have to sleep on the ground. None of them has so far received medical care or sufficient food and beverage from those who molested them (the TNI, POLRI and DENSUS 88).

Between June 29 and July 11 the Moluccan political prisoners have been refused every visit of family, lawyers and journalists. Everyone was sent away at the entrance of the prisons. After their arrest other arrests followed: two RMS activists from the village Galala which have hoisted RMS flags, a person who ran with RMS-colours on his pulse of which he did not know that it were RMS-colours, two civil servants who were suspected of involvement and the village head of Hutumuri.

With the arrest on 21 July and 22 July of Pieter Latumahina in Masohi (Ceram Island) and Junus Mario Litiloly in Ambon the number of imprisoned political activists became 44. Also these two activists are subjected to severe harassment.

We, the Moluccan Community in the Netherlands, gathered today in Moordrecht to attend the Tjakalele - Moluccan traditional war dance- Solidarity Festival, are deeply concerned about the fate of the 44 imprisoned activists, and we therefore urgently call upon the international media, independent journalists and representatives of Human Rights Organisations to visit the imprisoned Moluccan political activists at Tantui in Ambon and Perigi Lima for an impartial and independent investigation / media coverage.

And last but not least, we the Moluccan Community in the Netherlands demand immediate and unconditional release of all Moluccan Political Activists, and those perpetrators who is responsible for the committed injuries to the Moluccan political activists, must be bring to justice in compliance with the rules of international law.

ENDS

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