Many refugees refuse to return to Ambon<\/p>\n
UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): About 2,400 Muslim refugees
\nsheltered in Bone regency, 185 km north of here, have refused to
\nbe shipped back to riot-torn Ambon, Maluku's capital, for fear of
\nfurther violence, a local activist said on Friday.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Ocean Foundation's chairman, Andi Darvin, told
\nreporters the refugees were still traumatized by months of
\nviolent communal clashes in Ambon and other islands in the
\nprovince which have killed more than 300 people since they first
\nerupted in mid-January.<\/p>\n
\"They are now starting to farm and trying to forget their
\ndesire to return to Ambon.\" Darvin said, adding that the refugees
\nwere scattered in four subdistricts of the regency.<\/p>\n
About 500 high school students, who also fled Ambon and have
\nbeen enrolled in a number of schools here, also refuse to return
\nto the capital.<\/p>\n
Months of violent communal clashes in the Maluku province have
\nforced tens of thousands of Muslim migrants to flee to their
\nhometowns in Sulawesi, while thousands of others have had to seek
\nshelter in military installations, mosques, churches and
\ngovernment buildings in the riot-torn province.<\/p>\n
In Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, up to 42,000 refugees are being
\nsheltered in various makeshift centers.<\/p>\n
Antara reported on Saturday that chairwoman of the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle, Megawati Soekarnoputri, and seven
\nforeign ambassadors will visit refugees now sheltered in Bau-bau,
\nSoutheast Sulawesi, on Monday.<\/p>\n
Ambassadors of the United States, Japan and Malaysia are
\nincluded in the group, the news agency said.<\/p>\n
Volunteers grouped in the Committee for Crisis Handling have
\nbeen organizing the journey of some refugees back to Ambon.
\nUtilizing donations from various parties, the activists provide
\nfree tickets to those wanting to return.<\/p>\n
As of April 15, the committee has sent back 1,700 of an
\nestimated 15,000 Bugis refugees from the regencies of Bone,
\nSengkang, Wajo, Enrekang, Sinjai and Ujungpandang.<\/p>\n
The group advocates for the displaced people to return and
\nrebuild their lives in Maluku, where the Bugis have, for decades,
\nplayed a major role in trade.<\/p>\n
Antara also reported that 5,000 residents of Ahusen and
\nUrimesing subdistricts in Nusaniwe district, Ambon, held a
\ngathering at a school to restore ties among groups which recently
\nfought each other.<\/p>\n
Ambon Mayor Chres Tanasale attended the event, and in his
\naddress, called on residents who were still in refuge to return
\nand rebuild their lives together.<\/p>\n
\"Please rebuild unity, peace and a love of coexistence,\" he
\nsaid. (27\/byg\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/many-refugees-refuse-to-return-to-ambon-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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