Civil emergency seen as unlikely in Sampit

Civil emergency seen as unlikely in Sampit

JAKARTA (JP): Upon her return to Jakarta after her brief visit
to the riot-torn towns of Sampit and Palangkaraya, Central
Kalimantan, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri said on
Thursday that the imposition of a state of civil emergency in the
troubled towns was unlikely as things had now returned to normal.

"I'm glad that the local legislature and administration do not
have to impose a state of civil emergency there," Megawati told a
press briefing at the Halim Perdanakusuma air base.

House of Representatives' Speaker Akbar Tandjung, House deputy
speaker Sutardjo Soerjoguritno, Minister of Home Affairs and
Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja and the Indonesian Military
(TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S. had accompanied Megawati to
Kalimantan.

Expressing her concern that many Indonesians had lost their
spirit of unity, Megawati urged the people to help the Madurese
refugees, most of whom had fled to East Java, and to ease their
suffering.

"There is much we can do to help them," Megawati said, adding
that in the near future she would go to East Java to visit
the more than 15,000 Madurese who had sought refuge there since
"ethnic cleansing" directed against the Madurese erupted almost
two weeks ago.

She reiterated that the bloodshed in Sampit and Palangkaraya
had nothing to do with religion.

Earlier at Tjilik Riwut airport in Palangkaraya, Akbar called
on Madurese refugees to gradually return to their homes so as to
try to pick up the pieces of their lives again.

He also called on those who had not yet left Sampit and
Palangkaraya to cancel their plans.

Still in Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social
and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday
that the government would further consider whether relocating the
Madurese migrants out of Central Kalimantan was still necessary
given that the situation was improving.

Speaking to reporters after submitting the State Defense Bill
to the House, Susilo said that several Dayak community leaders
told him in Sampit and Palangkaraya that the Madurese migrants
were still accepted.

"The Dayak people can still accept the Madurese migrants as
long as the government can guarantee a community-building program
so as to prevent further fatal conflicts," he added.

Susilo said that another four battalions from the Indonesian
Military (TNI) and a battalion from the police Mobile Brigade
would be deployed there notwithstanding the improving situation.

Separately, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro said
that the police were questioning 81 people over the slaying of
hundreds of Madurese people.

Unconfirmed reports said that the death toll has hit 469, with
30 people injured.

Bimantoro said that the roads linking Sampit to Palangkaraya
and Palangkaraya to Banjarmasin (East Kalimantan) were save for
motorists.

Separately, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said
the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police had agreed
to divide up the area into separate zones of responsibility for
the police and army so as to avoid further clashes between
soldiers and police officers.

The deal was reached following a gunfight between them three
days ago at Sampit seaport.

"TNI headquarters has agreed to deploy its troops in
Palangkaraya and Pangkalanbun, while the Police troopers will be
deployed in Sampit," Endriartono told the press after chairing a
closed-door meeting of 95 top Army officers at Army headquarters.

In Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesian Air Force chief Air
Marshal Hanafie Asnan said that five Hercules military transport
planes had been sent to Central Kalimantan to transport displaced
persons.

Refugees

Meanwhile, three more refugees in a camp in Sampit regency
died on Thursday, bringing the number of fatalities among the
refugees to seven this week.

Red Cross data indicates that some 1,000 Madurese were still
hiding out in the forest. Their current condition is likely to be
critical.

While hundreds of dead bodies have already been buried,
residents were horrified to find 12 more bodies in water
channels.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association
(IDI) Achmad Djojosugito urged a quick restoration of security in
the area.

"Our doctors and paramedics are striving to help these victims
of violence and they are risking their lives, too. It's our duty
to do so but it will be a great comfort if security conditions
are improved," he said.

His association has been sending more doctors and paramedics
to Central Kalimantan.

"At least there are 17 doctors and paramedics available. We
want to send more but we cannot force them to go to conflict
zones," he said.

"Besides that, we are also working together with the Ministry
of Health and the Red Cross on the handling of no less than
10,000 refugees who have fled the conflicts to both Surabaya and
Semarang," Achmad said.

"Of the wounded, three of them are in critical condition," he
said, adding that there were still around 25,000 refugees in
Sampit who were suffering from serious water, medicine and food
shortages.

"Everyday there are batches of new refugees coming out of
their jungle hiding places," he added. (team)