Noodle scandal hits Maluku govt<\/p>\n
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon<\/p>\n
A number of refugees in Wainitu subdistrict, Ambon, suffered from
\ndiarrhea and vomiting after eating expired instant noodles
\ndistributed by the government less than a week ago, a local
\ncouncillor said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Maluku councillor Rury Moenandar said he discovered that
\nseveral packs of instant noodles distributed to refugees in
\nWainitu had already expired.<\/p>\n
The instant noodles had expiration dates of May 8 or Sept. 9.<\/p>\n
\"Some refugees had already eaten the instant noodles, which is
\nactually dangerous,\" said Rury, who is a councillor of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction.<\/p>\n
He called on the Maluku governor to punish those officials
\nresponsible for the distribution of food aid to refugees in
\nWainitu.<\/p>\n
Several refugees in Wainitu expressed concern over the
\nincident. \"We need food, but please don't treat us inhumanely,\"
\nsaid a refugee.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Wainitu subdistrict head Otang Tagupia defended
\nhimself, saying he was away when Maluku Social Affairs officials
\ndistributed the instant noodles.<\/p>\n
\"I was represented by my subordinates at that time, but
\napparently they did not check the expiration dates on the instant
\nnoodles and distributed the noodles,\" said Otang. He did not
\nprovide details on the number of instant noodle packets his
\nsubordinates distributed.<\/p>\n
Sartono is reported to have managed the distribution of food
\naid in Wainitu, but could not be contacted for comment, nor was
\nthe Maluku Social Affairs office available.<\/p>\n
The refugees in Wainitu hail from neighboring Talake
\nsubdistrict, which was hit by riots that broke out in Ambon on
\nApril 25.<\/p>\n
The riot erupted after a rally organized by the Maluku
\nSovereignty Front (FKM) to commemorate the self-proclaimed 54th
\nanniversary of its South Maluku Republic (RMS), and was blamed
\nfor provoking renewed sectarian clashes in Ambon.<\/p>\n
Dozens of people were killed and thousands of others were
\ninjured in the clashes.<\/p>\n
Some employees at the office said the instant noodles were
\nprovided by the Ministry of Social Affairs following the April 25
\nriot.<\/p>\n
However, the question remains as to why the food aid was not
\ndistributed to the refugees immediately.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/noodle-scandal-hits-maluku-govt-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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