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)