15 foreign social workers to leave Ambon<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): Fifteen foreign social workers aiding
\nAmbon communal clash refugees are giving up their duties due to
\nuncertain security in restive city of Ambon, which has seen more
\ninterreligious conflicts since Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The social workers, who have been living in Ambon for at least
\nthree months, met Governor Saleh Latuconsina on Saturday to
\nexpress their desire to leave Ambon for security reasons.<\/p>\n
The social workers, from the United Nations Development
\nProgram (UNDP), MSS (a non-governmental organization (NGO) from
\nthe U.S.) and ACS, a French NGO, told the governor they could no
\nlonger stand the uncontrolled situation.<\/p>\n
\"Our jobs have been disturbed. The clashes are nonsense and
\nhave been too brutal. We feel pressured,\" Thelma, a UNDP staff
\nmember from the Philippines, said.<\/p>\n
Unrest has also broken out in downtown Ambon since Tuesday,
\nleaving 26 people dead and injuring nearly 100 others.<\/p>\n
Unconfirmed reports said that they would leave Ambon on
\nSaturday on a Hercules military transport plane.<\/p>\n
Governor Latuconsina said they could not say a word to resist
\ntheir request. \"We'll be very upset with them if they leave. But
\nI cannot guarantee their security if they stay.\"<\/p>\n
The social workers, assisted by some 500 local volunteers,
\nhave devoted their lives to almost 90,000 refugees, from both
\nMuslim and Christian sides. The ACS workers have been in Ambon
\nfor one year, while the MSS members have been between six and
\nseven months in Ambon.<\/p>\n
In the entire province of Maluku, almost 200,000 people have
\nbeen living in refugee camps since the conflict between Muslims
\nand Christians rocked the province more than one year ago.<\/p>\n
The foreign social workers' decision to quit will apparently
\nworry the 500 local volunteers, who are Muslims and Christians.<\/p>\n
Coordinator for the Refugees' Health Dr. Ristianto Sugiyono
\nsaid he was surprised upon hearing about the withdrawal plan of
\nthe foreign NGO members. \"They have been meritorious in handling
\nthe refugees' condition, sanitation systems at the refugee camps
\nand the supply of clean water,\" the doctor said.<\/p>\n
He said the social workers, with their cars and water tanks,
\nhad been very active commuting from one camp to another to
\ndistribute medicines and clean water.<\/p>\n
While the refugees are facing uncertainties, two people were
\nkilled and four others were wounded in fresh violence in the
\nvillage of Laha, close to Pattimura Airport, some 40 kilometers
\nfrom Ambon, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The two deceased have yet to be identified, but locals said
\nthey were both residents of Tawiri village.<\/p>\n
The unrest is believed to have been sparked by the recent
\ndeaths of employees of PT Merpati, Is Renyaan and Paulus Helaha.<\/p>\n
The deaths have prompted Merpati to suspend its commercial
\nflights to and from Ambon for three days starting on Friday.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo AS inspected Ambon
\naboard a helicopter, following the clash.<\/p>\n
Widodo, who arrives in Ambon on Friday, was accompanied by
\nMaluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina and Pattimura military chief
\nBrig. Gen. Max Tamaela.<\/p>\n
Widodo stopped in Ambon after accompanying Vice President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri during her visit to Irian Jaya. He stayed
\nat the Ambon naval base. (49\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/15-foreign-social-workers-to-leave-ambon-1447893297",
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