UNPATTI vows to stay open despite damage<\/p>\n
AMBON, Maluku (JP): State-run Pattimura University vowed on
\nFriday to remain open despite massive damage to its 30-hectare
\ncampus.<\/p>\n
Most buildings were gutted when the campus came under armed
\nattack on July 4, raising doubts about whether classes could
\nresume when the semester holiday ends in September.<\/p>\n
The university, once seen as a symbol of neutrality in the
\nChristian-Muslim conflict in Maluku, became the latest victim of
\narbitrary violence this month.<\/p>\n
Rector Mus Hulisenan told journalists after an emergency
\nmeeting with lecturers on Friday the government had decided
\nlectures for the university's some 7,000 students must continue
\neven if they had to be held under \"the roof of the sky or in the
\nopen air\".<\/p>\n
\"Classes will be held in any available building,\" the rector
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The university has given its staff lecturers two moths to
\nreport to the campus. Deans and administrators who fail to return
\non time will be released, Mus said.<\/p>\n
The university is coordinating with other state universities
\nin Indonesia to find places for its students who wish to transfer
\nbecause of the sectarian unrest in Ambon, he said.<\/p>\n
The rector also said he had met with Vice President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono and Minister
\nof National Education Yahya Muhaimin this week.<\/p>\n
\"Ibu Mega asked for a quick assessment of the losses. Several
\ndonors have stated their readiness to repair the campus.<\/p>\n
\"Juwono said he was coordinating security for the campus with
\nthe Indonesian Military to prevent further attacks,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Almost all of the university's buildings, many recently
\nconstructed, were destroyed in a week of violence early this
\nmonth. Material losses were extensive, with the cost of each
\ndestroyed building estimated at Rp 10 billion.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, gunfire and explosions were heard in Ambon on
\nThursday night.<\/p>\n
Armed assailants from Tulehu and Liang villages attacked
\nKampung Waai for the second time this month, witnesses said.<\/p>\n
Around 3,000 people who lost their homes in the first raid
\nwere living amid the debris of their destroyed houses when they
\nwere attacked again.<\/p>\n
\"They fled to the foot Mt. Salahutu,\" Rev. A.J. Jambormias of
\nWaai's Maluku Protestant Church said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
There were no reports of casualties.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the head of the PT Telkom office in Paso, Silooy,
\nsaid numerous areas of Maluku had no communications because of
\nmajor technical problems with the telephone system.<\/p>\n
He said some 2,000 lines in Galala, Paso, the western part of
\nSeram islands, Saparua island, Haruku island and Nusa Laut were
\neffected.<\/p>\n
Service will not be restored for at least 20 days because
\nTelkom must bring in technicians and equipment from Makassar,
\nSouth Sulawesi, he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, dozens of people, including 12 police officers,
\nwere seriously injured on Thursday in clashes in Sorong, Irian
\nJaya, between Maluku refugees and locals.<\/p>\n
The refugees, who were fleeing violence in their villages,
\nreceived a hostile reception when they attempted to disembark at
\nSorong Port. Police were sent in to quell the clashes.<\/p>\n
Sorong General Hospital identified the locals who were wounded
\nby stray bullets as Frans Tarage, Alfred Taresai, David Iba,
\nYance Bleskadit, Yulianus Kaisina. Another victim has not been
\nidentified. A police officer suffered a stab wound.<\/p>\n
During the violence at the port, an unidentified refugee
\nreportedly died on one of the ships, while others jumped into the
\nsea and swam ashore. Many became separated from their relatives
\nduring the chaos.<\/p>\n
The refugees were eventually given shelter in churches in
\nSorong. The majority of them said they were hoping eventually to
\nsail to Manado, North Sulawesi. (49\/48\/edt)<\/p>",
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