Some Sambas refugees seek 'special places'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior ulema urged the government on Wednesday
\nto not only attend to the physical needs of about 21,000 Madurese
\nrefugees from Sambas in West Kalimantan, but to also facilitate
\ntheir necessary romantic activities.<\/p>\n
H.A. Malik, chairman of the West Kalimantan chapter of the
\nIndonesian Ulema Council (MUI), said he has received several
\ncomplaints from married refugees who say they feel restricted.<\/p>\n
Citing complaints from refugees sheltered at the packed Sultan
\nSyarif Abdurahman soccer stadium and other sports stadiums in the
\nprovincial capital Pontianak, Malik said couples had requested
\nthat lights not be left on all night.<\/p>\n
\"The lamps should, at least, be switched off at certain
\ntimes,\" the head of the provincial office of the Ministry of
\nReligious Affairs quoted the refugees as telling him recently.<\/p>\n
Malik, however, told the frustrated Madurese to search for an
\nappropriate setting before retiring.<\/p>\n
The refugees from Sambas regency have arrived in droves in
\nPontianak and other centers in the province, fleeing clashes
\nbetween the migrant Madurese and other ethnic groups in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and
\nPoverty Eradication Haryono Suyono, who has just returned from
\nWest Kalimantan, said the President has agreed to plans to
\nrelocate the Madurese from Sambas, as demanded by the indigenous
\ninhabitants.<\/p>\n
But Habibie instructed him to extend the deadline for their
\nrelocation for at least two months to enable the refugees to
\nchoose their new destinations.<\/p>\n
The President said the refugees should be given the freedom to
\nchoose the place where they would make their new homes.<\/p>\n
\"It must be considered first whether they want to work (in the
\ndestination areas), and whether local people are ready to accept
\nthem,\" Haryono said after meeting Habibie at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
Haryono said that, as of Tuesday, the clashes had claimed 165
\nlives, including 154 Madurese and 10 Malays, and seriously
\ninjured 62, while 2,127 houses were burned down in the month-long
\nclashes.<\/p>\n
The official number is lower than press reports, which said
\nmore than 200 had been killed in the violence.<\/p>\n
According to the minister, 20,782 Madurese have left Sambas
\nsince the violence erupted, while 7,913 people remained.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, more than 1,600 refugees from Sambas arrived in
\nTanjung Perak Port in Surabaya on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The East Java administration financed the migrants' return to
\ntheir home towns in Bangkalan, Madura.<\/p>\n
Separately, noted economist Didiek J. Rachbini criticized the
\ngovernment for its slow actions and lack of political will in
\nhandling the ethnic conflicts in the province.<\/p>\n
Speaking in his capacity as the coordinator of the Madurese
\nForum for Humanitarian Campaigns (Kamus), Didik said angrily in
\nYogyakarta that the killings of Madurese could only be compared
\nwith that of Pol Pot in Cambodia.<\/p>\n
He also demanded that Habibie fire \"incapable\" governor Aspar
\nAswin and the provincial police chief Col. Chaerul Rasyidi.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Pontianak, appeals of peace was scattered through
\nthe air on Wednesday, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
It was signed by 12 prominent community leaders representing
\nthe Dayaks, Malays, Madurese, Bugis and Chinese, apart from local
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
Among others the messages appealed that people could help one
\nanother and work together to retain peace. Earlier community
\nleaders other than the Madurese said they could no longer live
\nwith the Madurese, citing incompatible cultures. (prb\/23)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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