Hundreds of students blocked a road near the Ambon Airport Thursday, protesting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s failure to include any representatives from Maluku in his new Cabinet.
Among the protesters were students from the Islamic Students Association (HMI), the Indonesian National Students Movement (GMNI), the University of Pattimura, the Ambon State Islamic Institute and the Indonesian Christian Students Association (GMKI).
The demonstrators called on the President to appoint a minister from the province and threatened to hold a referendum to separate Maluku from Indonesia, Kompas.com reported.
The protest caused heavy traffic congestion.