Jayapura accepts refugees fleeing strife-torn Maluku
Jayapura accepts refugees fleeing strife-torn Maluku
SORONG, Irian Jaya (JP): The remaining 968 refugees fleeing
strife-torn Maluku on board the KM Dobonsolo disembarked in
Jayapura on Monday.
"After a few days of disputes and rejection from some locals,
the refugees were finally dropped off in Jayapura and will be
sheltered temporarily at the naval base here," a police officer
in Jayapura said in a telephone interview.
The Dobonsolo has reportedly departed for the towns of Biak
and Fak Fak in Irian Jaya before heading for Kupang in East Nusa
Tenggara.
The ferry, which carried 4,215 passengers, about 1,200 of whom
were refugees, was impounded off Jayapura after arriving on
Sunday from the Maluku capital of Ambon.
Local administration prohibited the state-owned ferry from
berthing or disembarking the refugees, citing fear that they
might bring further violence to the area.
The decision on whether to allow the Maluku refugees to enter
Irian Jaya was heatedly debated in a coordinated meeting presided
over by Deputy Governor Brig. Gen. (ret) Abraham O. Atururi and
attended by Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas, Irian Jaya
Navy Base commander Commodore Franklin W. Kayhattu, provincial
councillors and community leaders on Monday afternoon, Antara
reported.
Both Wenas and Franklin, however, urged the local leaders to
accept the refugees for humanitarian reasons.
"Do not confuse a benevolent action with political motives.
The refugees are in a very poor condition and need our help,"
Wenas said.
Franklin, however, said his troops were ready to take firm
action if any of the refugees instigated riots in the country's
easternmost province.
After hours of acrimonious debate, which ended in the evening,
the Irianese civilian guards agreed to accept the refugees.
But an incident broke out at almost the same time, when the
Maluku refugees rushed back to the Dobonsolo and demanded the
crew return them to Ambon. The dispute remained unsettled as of
10 p.m. local time, witnesses said.
Separately in Ambon, Governor Saleh Latuconsina said he sent
the list of passengers on board to the Irian Jaya governor in a
bid to recheck the travelers.
"May I say here that not all of those passengers are refugees.
There are three categories, the first are those who want to reach
Tual in North Maluku but have to transit in Manokwari. The second
group are merely visitors and the third band comprises refugees,"
Latuconsina said, adding that so far there were no changes to the
vessel's route.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, Governor H. ZB Palaguna urged the
central government on Monday to take concrete steps to deal with
Maluku refugees who were denied entry into Irian Jaya.
"South Sulawesi is one of the popular destinations for
refugees arriving from areas ravaged by communal clashes, such as
Irian Jaya, Maluku, East Timor and Poso," he said.
"The government is obliged to take care of them and protect
them from possible terror and intimidation."
He said, however, that he could understand why certain areas
could not accept people from other places. "Seeking refuge in our
own country is more honorable than seeking asylum abroad."
Back in Maluku, Governor Latuconsina and security authorities
inspected the ravaged village of Waai on Monday following an
overnight fray which killed at least one person and wounded six
others.
Waai, which is about 28 kilometers south of Ambon, was
attacked for the third time this month after armed rioters from
the predominantly Muslim Tulehu and Liang villages raided the
area on Sunday at about 10 a.m. local time.
"The situation seems relatively calm, but we're still
collecting more data," Latuconsina said after the 30-minute
inspection. He was accompanied by Pattimura Military chief Brig.
Gen. I Made Yasa and Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani.
(48/49/27/edt/sur)