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)