Fadli, Batam – Subsiding in both Aceh and Maluku, and taking root in Papua, a separatist movement has emerged on the oil- and gas-rich island of Natuna in Riau Islands province.

The district military said Sunday they had arrested several NGO activists accused of starting a movement to campaign for the breakaway of the Natuna regency from Indonesia. The NGOs are extremely dissatisfied with the slow pace of development in their resource-rich region.

Natuna district military commander Lt. Col. I Wayan Aditya said at least three local NGO leaders, allegedly involved in the free Natuna movement, were apprehended between Friday and Sunday and handed over to local police for investigation.

A source in Natuna told The Jakarta Post that movement coordinator, Raja Muhammad Thohir, and fellow NGO activist, Budi Eka Syahputra, had been held for questioning by the Natuna Police since Friday. Several other activists were being sought by the Natuna authorities, added the source.

Riau Islands Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Anggaria Lopis confirmed the arrest of several NGO leaders for alleged separatism.

"I will check (the number of detainees) on Monday for more detailed information. But it is just a small movement. A Free Riau Movement failed in the past, let alone this Natuna movement," he said.

The military said at least nine NGOs had been identified recently as playing a role in declaring a free Natuna movement, including the Concerned Bunguran NGO led by Raja Muhammad Thohir and the Ampuh NGO by Budi Eka Syahoputra. Among other accused NGOs were LSM Papan, LSM Genggam, LSM Ampuh, LSM Foksidar, LSM NAB, LSM Formis, LSM PMB, LSM Awas, and the Natuna branch of Kosgoro, which is affiliated with the Golkar Party.

"It is an act of treachery. The documents we seized suggested the NGOs were disappointed with the meager share of the oil and gas revenue received by the regency. We are looking into the strength of this campaign for Natuna independence," I Wayan said.

Riau Islands administration spokesman Irmansyah slammed such a separatist movement in Natuna as "too much", saying his office was negotiating with the central government for a bigger share of oil and gas money for the regency.

Natuna, located 550 kilometers east of Batam Island, borders Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia and has an area of 1,720 square kilometers. The archipelago in the South China Sea is rich in hydrocarbons and has several offshore oil and gas fields.