Madurese evacuation to Pontianak suspended<\/p>\n
SINGKAWANG, West Kalimantan (JP): As peace and order gradually
\nreturns to Sambas, Regent Tarya Aryanto discontinued the
\nevacuation of local Madurese refugees to Pontianak, citing the
\ncrowded refugee centers in the provincial capital.<\/p>\n
Tarya said the remaining 8,000 Madurese refugees in the
\nregency would be sheltered in the Pasir Panjang coastal area here
\nand other as yet undesignated areas.<\/p>\n
At least 33,000 Madurese refugees are now sheltering in
\nPontianak and the surrounding areas, according to Antara which
\nquoted data of the coordination post here.<\/p>\n
"We'll build more barracks to accommodate the refugees here,"
\nTarya said after meeting two visiting members of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights, Bambang W. Suharto and Soegiri.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Minister of Defense and Security\/Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Wiranto said the two-week ethnic clashes in Sambas
\nwere over.<\/p>\n
"We've relayed to the President and also related ministries to
\nfind ways to help the refugees who are now in need of assistance
\nand guarantees for a more certain future," he said after opening
\na course at the National Resilience Institute.<\/p>\n
West Kalimantan Police chief Col. Chaerul Rasyidi, said the
\nsituation in the regency was improving gradually. He said 3,186
\nsecurity personnel from all Armed Forces units had been deployed
\nto restore order in the area.<\/p>\n
"We consider the situation to be safe," he said after
\nattending a meeting with members of the rights commission, West
\nKalimantan Military chief Col. Encip Kadarusman and leaders from
\nthe Madurese, Malay and Dayak communities at Sambas Police
\nprecinct.<\/p>\n
According to Chaerul, police have detained 55 alleged rioters.<\/p>\n
The road connecting Singkawang and Sambas has reportedly
\nreturned to normal, with more travelers on the 80-kilometer
\nroute.<\/p>\n
Over the past week, local Malay villagers and Dayaks were seen
\nparading along the road armed with various weapons.<\/p>\n
Bloody unrest broke out over two weeks ago in remote Sambas
\nvillages as indigenous Malays and Dayaks clashed with Madurese
\nsettlers.<\/p>\n
Nearly 200 people were killed in the carnage. An outbreak of
\nviolence in 1997 between Dayaks and Madurese claimed at least 300
\nlives.<\/p>\n
Local Malay, Dayak, Bugis and Chinese community leaders told
\nWiranto they could no longer live with the Madurese migrants.<\/p>\n
Sorting system<\/p>\n
Coordinator of the local Madurese community association,
\nFahruddin, who attended the Sambas reconciliation meeting,
\nsuggested "a sorting method" be applied by the local government
\nto determine which Madurese could stay in Sambas.<\/p>\n
"We were born here, grew up here ... we want to remain here,
\nwhy should we go back to Madura?" he told The Jakarta Post on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
He suggested locals might accept "only good Madurese ... just
\nsend back those who cause trouble".<\/p>\n
Fahruddin urged the authorities to establish more shelters for
\nMadurese refugees.<\/p>\n
In Pontianak, as reported on Monday by Suara Pembaruan
\nafternoon daily, some 1,400 embattled Madurese said they were
\nwilling to return to Madura.<\/p>\n
A local government official, Ibrahim Salin, said the refugees
\nhad volunteered to return to the island.<\/p>\n
Governor Aspar Aswin said there were two options to deal with
\nthe refugees: sending them back to Sambas or relocating them to
\nanother regency.<\/p>\n
Community leaders in Madura have warned that the returning
\nMadurese may put pressure on island resources, as most of them
\nleft the island a long time ago and could not rely on relatives
\nfor accommodation and other support.<\/p>\n
Also in Jakarta on Monday, dozens of students hailing from
\nMadura rallied in front of the defense ministry on Jl. Merdeka
\nBarat calling for peace in West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
They condemned "ethnic cleansing" of Madurese and urged the
\ngovernment to punish parties responsible for the killings.<\/p>\n
Students grouped in the Forum of Madurese Students also urged
\nadequate rehabilitation of refugees who had lost their homes in
\nthe carnage.<\/p>\n
They said Wiranto and the local military commander should
\nresign for failure in curbing the violence.<\/p>\n
The Family of Madurese Students also urged all parties help to
\nreturn harmony among conflicting parties in Sambas. (leo\/aan)<\/p>",
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