Madurese refugees not relocated

Madurese refugees not relocated

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: None of the Madurese migrant
refugees have moved from their temporary resettlements here
despite the July 1 deadline set by the Dayak and Malay
communities.

Spokesman for the West Kalimantan administration Tatang Isya
Iskandar said on Wednesday that there were pros and cons to the
planned resettlement expressed by refugees. "Some agree, others
refuse."

He admitted that as many as 116 family heads had moved to
Tebang Kacang in the regency of Pontianak. "But they moved on
their own initiative and expense. They are living with their
relatives, instead of staying in the houses made available by the
government."

More than 60,000 Madurese migrants who fled Sambas in 1999
have been living in Pontianak. Local people, mostly Malay and
Dayak, said that the refugees who had resettled in separate areas
in the town, had become trouble makers.

In an effort to encourage the refugees to move to the new
sites, the provincial relocation team members took 22 refugees on
Thursday to visit the Sungai Asam relocation site.

"It will be hard for us to move here," Thamrin, one of the
refugees said after seeing the promised location. (46/sur)