Continue aid for Ambon refugees urged

Continue aid for Ambon refugees urged

JAKARTA (JP): Southeast Sulawesi Governor La Ode Kaimoeddin
called on the government on Tuesday to step up humanitarian aid
for Ambon refugees, particularly those sheltering on Buton
Island.

Kaimoeddin was commenting on a possible diarrhea outbreak in
the Southeast Sulawesi island after flooding swept away their
makeshift barracks on Sunday.

"The refugees have taken on multiple tribulations. While
looking for safety here, they find themselves facing serious
health problems due to the flood," Kaimoeddin said after
installing the new head of the social affairs office, Tamrin
Patoro, in the provincial capital Kendari.

The governor did not believe the Ambon refugees, mostly of
Buton descent, wished to settle permanently on the island.

"The central government appears to have washed its hands of
the matter after learning the refugees are ancestors of Buton
migrants. (They appear to) disregard the fact that they were born
and raised in Ambon."

Field workers estimate the number of Ambon refugees has
reached 37,000 and predict numbers will soar to 40,000.

Incessant rains caused flooding in Buton on Sunday, with at
least 500 Ambon refugee families among people evacuated to safer
places. No fatalities were reported.

Kaimoeddin demanded the government dispatch more humanitarian
aid for the refugees following the flooding.

"Frankly speaking, I'm disappointed with the government for
ignoring Buton people but paying more attention to West
Kalimantan refugees," he told Antara news agency.

In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, some 10,000 Bugis who fled
riot-torn Ambon began returning to the Maluku capital on Tuesday.

Coordinator for refugee relocation, Iskandar Prasojo, told The
Jakarta Post the refugees will be transported by ships belonging
to state-owned shipping company Pelni in five stages. The four
remaining relocation dates are April 1, April 15, April 21 and
April 29.

Head of the Armed Forces task force responsible for appeasing
the religious conflict, Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy, said the
return of Bugis migrants to Ambon indicated that order had been
restored.

Meanwhile, the Ambon District Court began on Monday the trial
of a local public transportation driver who allegedly sparked the
weeks of bloody clashes. Nearly 200 died in the unrest and
hundreds of buildings were damaged. (27/amd)