Ambon refugees in Ujungpandang to be sent home

Ambon refugees in Ujungpandang to be sent home

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Thousands of refugees here
from the riot-torn Maluku capital of Ambon are to be sent home
because the situation in Ambon has returned to normal, military
commander Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy said on Thursday.

The chief of the Wirabuana Military Command, which includes
Maluku, added the special team of Armed Forces (ABRI) officers he
led to Ambon to assess the situation and help bring a halt to the
unrest had tallied 191 riot-related deaths in the province since
mid-January and 3,535 buildings destroyed, including mosques and
churches.

"But other sources say the figures might be higher," Suaidi
told The Jakarta Post at Hasanuddin International Airport here
upon his arrival from Ambon.

Refugees would begin returning to Ambon after the Muslim Day
of Sacrifice on March 28, he said, adding students and other
community members were involved in the operation, which
authorities hoped to complete before the June 7 general election.

Suaidi said support in Maluku for the return of the refugees
was indicated by the stated willingness of four villages to take
the refugees in.

Since the riots in Ambon and other parts of Maluku, tens of
thousands of people, most hailing from South Sulawesi, streamed
into Ujungpandang. Several said they would attempt to find work
in Malaysia, while most of the refugees said they were unsure of
their future.

Suaidi's team, comprising Maluku-born officers, was sent to
Ambon by ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto in a bid to ease tension
there.

Suaidi said Ambon still was being tightly guarded "to narrow
the space of operation for provocateurs, who according to our
observations have moved to the outskirts of Ambon and other
islands in Maluku".

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces information office reported on
Thursday Ambon residents voluntarily turned over thousands of
weapons to security personnel.

Residents of Batu Merah, Benteng, Galunggung, Pandan Kasturi
and Waihoka in Ambon turned in spears, swords, sharpened bamboo
staves, bows and arrows, machetes, slingshots, homemade rifles
and other weapons.

A member of Suaidi's team in Ambon, Col. Harry Cokro, who
witnessed the hand over, hoped other residents would also turn in
their weapons.

News agency Antara reported from Ambon another member of the
team in Ambon, Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela, on Wednesday held talks
with Christian youths at Maranatha Church.

Pattimura Military Commander Col. Karel Ralahalu said during
the discussion that youths played an important role in ensuring
the situation in Ambon remained peaceful.

He added the rehabilitation of at least 284 homes in a number
of areas almost was completed.

In Ujungpandang, Suaidi cited a number of factors which helped
halt the unrest in Ambon. These included informal talks held by
his team each night with various groups; the fact that
provocateurs had moved out of the city after "achieving" their
goals in Ambon; and "external pressure" placed on conflicting
parties.

Suaidi said provocateurs were those seeking to secure "a total
victory" in the election in Ambon by removing potential
supporters of other parties, those who wished to destroy
migrants' economic activities and those with "local, national or
international" political interests. (27/anr)