8,000 refugees face hunger after Irian riots
8,000 refugees face hunger after Irian riots
JAKARTA (JP): Some 8,000 refugees of the Wamena disturbances
who are sheltering in nearby military and police posts in
Jayawijaya regency are living in squalid conditions and facing
hunger and a lack of medical supplies.
"The Irian Jaya Social Welfare Agency must speed up the
process of aid distribution to save the people," deputy head of
the National Social Welfare Board (BKSN) Sri Rahmadi told the
Antara news agency on Sunday.
"I think that we still have between 250 tons and 500 tons of
rice and some of it can be sent there."
Rahmadi added that further coordination with local authorities
is needed due to the difficult terrain of the remote area.
Most refugees are migrant settlers who lived in nearby
villages.
At least 30 people were killed and 45 others injured as
thousands of proindependence Papuan task force members ran amok
in Wamena on Oct. 6 following the pulling down of Morning Star
separatist flags by the police.
Thousands have since fled their homes, fearing renewed
attacks. Dozens of houses were either burned or looted.
Wamena, located about 290 kilometers southwest of the
provincial capital Jayapura, is reportedly still paralyzed
following the bloody disturbances.
Schools, businesses and government activities were all still
on hold as of the weekend, pending further improvements in the
situation.
"People are still terrified and many are traumatized over the
incident," the provincial Logistics Depot (Dolog) chief Hasan
Amlati said as quoted by the news agency on Saturday.
The threat of renewed clashes remains as the Papuan Presidium
Council (PDP) chief Theys Hiyo Eluay has reportedly vowed to defy
the government's ban on the flying of the separatist flag in the
province.
"The flags are still flying at two locations in Jayapura,
namely Theys' house at Sentani and a location in the Taman Imbi
area," Sr. Supt M. Kusnadi, chief of Irian Jaya's police
operation and control unit, said on Sunday.
A group of Papuan task force members were seen guarding Theys'
house on Sunday.
Kusnadi said PDP executives in Jayapura have refused to lower
the flags as "they insist on sticking to the previous agreement
with the police to only pull down the flag after Oct. 19".
"We are keeping an eye on the situation as we don't want any
clashes triggered by the task force to erupt," the officer said.
No PDP executives could be reached for comment on Sunday.
Kusnadi said the PDP and local authorities are slated to meet
for further discussions on the situation on Monday.
Earlier on Saturday, Governor Busiran Darmosuwito, Trikora
Military chief Maj. Gen. Albert Inkiriwang and Irian Jaya Police
chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas visited riot victims in Wamena
General Hospital.
"The Indonesian Military (TNI) has sent a Hercules plane to
drop food, medical assistance and materials to reconstruct the
villages damaged in the riots," Albert said.
The two victims with the most serious injuries, namely
Sumiyati who lost her left hand and her son Putra Abdul Hafid,
10, who is still in a comma, will be immediately flown to Jakarta
for further treatment.
Jayawijaya Police chief Supt. D. Surapatty said police had
arrested the man, identified only as a member of staff at Wamena
General Hospital, who is allegedly responsible for attacking the
two.
Police seized Rp 3.9 million in cash and a wallet belonging to
Sumiyati from the suspect. (edt)