Psychologists oppose plans to return refugees<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Psychologists meeting at the University of
\nIndonesia's crisis center on Thursday argued against the
\npremature return of tens of thousands of Madurese refugees to
\nCentral Kalimantan, warning that it could spur \"a bigger killing
\nspree.\"<\/p>\n
\"We have to be realistic here. It is impossible for those
\nrefugees to be repatriated in such a short time. The severe
\npsychological impact will be unbearable,\" Sarlito Wirawan
\nSarwono, the university's professor of psychology, told
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
\"Moving them (the Madurese) back to Sampit or Palangkaraya is
\nthe same as committing suicide. Do we want them to die?\" he
\nasserted.<\/p>\n
Sarlito was referring to public remarks made by community and
\npublic figures that the Madurese refugees should be returned to
\nCentral Kalimantan, where they resided prior to the recent ethnic
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
There will not be enough soldiers available to adequately
\ncontrol the area, separating the Madurese from the Dayaks in
\nSampit and Palangkaraya, Sarlito said.<\/p>\n
\"Tension is still high and it is important to remember that
\nthose refugees are not simply objects that can be moved around at
\nanytime. It will take years for them to get over the trauma and
\nget their lives back in order,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Troop deployment in the disputed area must be concentrated to
\nrestore law and order, he said.<\/p>\n
He further argued that in handling emergency evacuations there
\nare four basic issues that must be addressed: the first is
\nimmediate rescue and relief to avoid loss of life; the second is
\nfood aid; the third is to provide counseling to those who have
\nsuffered from traumatic-stress disorders; and the final issue
\ninvolves creating jobs and educational opportunities along with
\nresettlement.<\/p>\n
Sarlito noted that it would be difficult for the security
\nforces to intervene in such a situation where they are often
\nplaced in a dilemma between saving refugees and having to act
\nharshly against locals who may attack.<\/p>\n
The group also regretted statements which have only aggravated
\nthe situation.<\/p>\n
\"Members of the (political) elite should watch what they are
\nsaying because their statements can rapidly worsen the situation
\nand trigger more conflict.\"<\/p>\n
\"What happened in Sampit and Palangkaraya were local cases and
\nactually had nothing to do with ethnicity. The Madurese live in
\nall parts of the country, so why do they only have disputes in
\nthose two areas?\"<\/p>\n
\"In Aceh, the disputes are between locals and Javanese migrant
\nsettlers,\" Sarlito said.<\/p>\n
\"It is a local dispute and must be solved locally. Lets not
\nsimply leave this situation to the central government and expect
\nthem to solve it...as it just means that we'll be accommodating
\nthe past regime's centralistic system,\" he argued.<\/p>\n
He also urged politicians not to twist the issue by making it
\na political commodity, including demanding President Abdurrahman
\nWahid to resign.<\/p>\n
\"Even if Megawati Soekarnoputri becomes president, she won't
\nbe able solve this situation instantly,\" Sarlito said.<\/p>\n
Crisis Center Chairman Acuk Supardi lamented that so far,
\nthere have been no comprehensive studies and very few pieces of
\nliterature available on ethic conflicts in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Back then studies on ethnicity and religion were banned. Now
\nwe must find out the various characteristics of the people and
\nbegin to learn living together as a nation,\" he said.(edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/psychologists-oppose-plans-to-return-refugees-1447893297",
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