1,700 Muslim refugees return to Maluku

1,700 Muslim refugees return to Maluku

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): After several months of
sheltering in various towns here, around 1,700 Muslim refugees
are returning to Maluku, from which they fled following clashes
with Christians that killed an estimated 300 people since the
violence broke out in mid-January.

The first group of 500 refugees left the Soekarno Hatta
seaport here on Thursday evening on board the KM Bukit Siguntang.
The second group of 600 displaced people would leave on
Wednesday, while the third, another 600 refugees, next Thursday.

The transportation efforts are being organized by various
organizations, including the Committee for Crisis Handling
(KOMPAK) and the University of Indonesian Muslims (UMI).

Dozens of volunteers from those organizations, including
medical workers, are assigned to escort the refugees, most of
whom were sheltered in the regencies of Bone, Enrekang, Wajo,
Takalar and Luwu. During the two-day sea trip some of the
volunteers will give sermons and other briefings to the refugees.

Mission coordinator Mansyur Semma said the funds for project
came from various organizations, both local and international.

Another volunteer, Agus Dwikarna, said the transportation of
the refugees was undertaken only after the Armed Forces,
specifically the special team assigned to handle the unrest in
Maluku, had guaranteed their safety.

Idrus Arsyad, one of the refugees, said he really wanted to go
back to the Maluku capital of Ambon, where his family had lived
since the 1950s. "I and some of the others no longer have
anything in Ambon, but, God willing, we'll start again from
scratch there," he said.

"No, we're not scared because we have this guarantee from the
Ulema Council and the Armed Forces," said Acce, another refugee.

Meanwhile, Antara reported from Tual that animals have been
eating some of the 68 bodies that have not been moved from ruined
villages in Kei Besar district, the site of one of the most
recent religious clashes on April 3 and April 4.

The news agency said, without specifying its sources, that at
least 30 bodies were still among the ruins in Weduar Fer village,
while another 36 bodies were in Elar Lamagorong village.

In another settlement in Kei Kecil district, two unidentified
bodies were found in a well.

Pattimura military chief Col. Karel Rahalalu promised in Ambon
to send a team to identify and evacuate the bodies. He blamed the
failure to remove the bodies from villages, abandoned by most
residents after the clashes, on a shortage of personnel.

He said most of the security personnel were deployed in the
town of Tual.

From Ambon, the news agency reported the leader of the special
team of Armed Forces officers formed to restore peace in Maluku
dispelled talks the team is disbanding, following the return of
one member to Jakarta.

Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy said on Saturday the team is
still operating, despite Col. Yance Louhenapessy's departure for
Jakarta to attend courses at the National Resilience Institute.

He said the team will complete the first phase of its mission
on April 30. The first phase of the mission, he said, is lead by
Rear Adm. Franklyn Kayhattu and comprises Col. Rosiana
Sahusilawane, Col. Harry Cokro, Col. Nono Sampono and Col. B
Saimima.

"Although I and some of the team members have returned to our
base, the special team has not been disbanded. We continue to
coordinate our efforts, especially in monitoring the security
situation in Ambon and other areas of the province," said
Marasabessy, who is also chief of the Wirabuana regional military
command based in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

He said the team's presence in Maluku will depend on the
situation in the province.

If communal clashes flare up again, the team will stay on, he
said, explaining that it will take time before peace is fully
restored in the province. (27/swe)