Last group of refugees leave Sampit

SAMPIT, Central Kalimantan (JP): The last remaining refugees sheltering in camps here as a result of the bloody ethnic riot have been officially evacuated and transported by ship to East Java.

The exact number that were remaining is still sketchy, but officials claimed that the last batch of about 4,500 refugees were evacuated Wednesday evening aboard the Tilongkabila ship bound for Surabaya.

The latest departure brings the number of evacuated to nearly 51,500 since the ethnic violence involving mainly Madurese migrants and local Dayaks erupted three weeks ago.

The ethnic violence has claimed some 400 deaths.

East Kotawaringin Regent Wahyudi K. Anwar said in Sampit that officials will now focus on locating those who fled to the jungles following the violence.

The refugees, mostly migrant Madurese settlers, continue to hide in fear of Dayak reprisals.

But the evacuation was not without incident as a refugee apparently ran amok and torched five houses.

Witnesses said that after leaving the refugee camp looking distressed and walking about two-kilometers the man suddenly started to burn several empty houses.

It evoked the ire of several locals who then attacked and killed him.

Meanwhile in Sampang, Madura Island, it was reported that at least five people have died in temporary camps set up to accommodate some 31,000 refugees who fled Central Kalimantan.

Sampang Regent Secretary Erdit Herumandi said that at least three of the deaths were infants due to diarrhea while two were adults caused by respiratory problems and a stress-related heart attack.

"According to our medical team the infants who died did not get enough clean water or milk. The adult who had a heart attack was in shock because he lost all his belongings," Erdit remarked.

The fate of the refugees is in limbo, as hope of their return to Central Kalimantan remains a long way off.

The Central Kalimantan chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council Abdul Hadi Ridwan, who is a Dayak, admitted that no one can guarantee the safety of Madurese should they return.

Separately in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan governor Sjahril Darham said he plans to have all Kalimantan governors (East, West, Central and South) and the East Java governor meet together to discuss the aftermath of the mayhem.

"We don't want any more violence. There are many Kalimantan people living in East Java and there are many East Javanese, including Madurese, living in Kalimantan. They all must be protected," Darham said, while adding that he had received reports from Malang, East Java, that East Kalimantan students living there had been intimidated.

Ritual

Meanwhile in Jakarta, one of the suspects in the Sampit riots told police at the National Police Headquarters that the riots were preceded by a "ritual ceremony which went terribly wrong."

National Police chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Engkesman Hillep identified the suspect only as Fash who was chief of the planning, research and development division at the East Kotawaringin administration.

"Fash told us that on Feb. 17, he had paid Rp 15 million to initiate the riots, which his 30 friends caused on Feb. 18. Fash himself was at Pangkalan Bun in West Kotawaringin on Feb. 18," Engkesman told reporters.

"Fash said that it had all started with clashes in Karengpangi, Sampit, at which the Dayaks and the Madurese had serious misunderstandings in December."

Engkesman said that after the clashes in December, Madurese leaders wanted to make peace by performing "a peace ceremony to which Dayaks would be invited."

But apparently they performed the wrong ritual "and worse still, it was actually a signal for war."

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi said the official police figure of fatalities was 371, despite earlier claims that it had reached 500.

He added that 1,192 homes were burned down, 748 homes were damaged, and 16 cars, 43 motorcycles and 114 pedicabs were destroyed.

Didi also said that 45 people have been detained, three of whom were being questioned as suspects at the National Police Headquarters.

He added that police have also confiscated 1,347 weapons, which consist mostly of spears, mandau swords, machetes, sickles, keris daggers, knives, and 66 homemade bombs.

"Of the bombs, 18 were found in Sampit and 48 in Palangkaraya," Didi said. (32/nur/ylt/sur/edt/dja)