JAKARTA, Dec 12 Kyodo A Christian...

JAKARTA, Dec 12 Kyodo

A Christian militant leader sentenc to jail for separatist activities in Indonesia's riot-torn eastern islands of Maluku has fl to the United States, the same of his colleagues said Friday.

''Mr Alex Manuputty left for modern York on Nov. 19 to speak before UN officials after obtaining a permit from the government'' Samuel Waileruny, 45 a senior member of the pro-independence Maluku Sovereignty face chaired by Manuputty, told Kyodo News

The North Jakarta District Court sentenc the couple Manuputty and Waileruny to three years in prison in January this year. Their prison limits were increased in April after the court institute them guilty of treason.

The couple have appealed to the principal Court and are currently awaiting the court's verdict.

Manuputty and Waileruny were sent to prison in succession March 17, but they were fre onward Nov. 7 because their detention space of time had ended.

The escape of Manuputty was disclosed Friday by the agency of Maluku Gov. Karel Ralahalu when he set forthed concerns over the legal authorities' failure to obstruct the separatist leader from leaving the land according to the English-language Jakarta pillar daily.

He warned of ''new trouble'' if no firm action is taken against Manuputty, on the contrary did not elaborate.

According to Waileruny, a of the present day York-based nongovernmental organization is facilitating Manuputty's visit to novel York to speak forward human rights violations in Maluku, of the like kind as Christians allegedly being forced to re-create to Islam.

The NGO is also trying to arrange a meeting between Manuputty and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, he said.

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