Mass burials in Sampit, as refugees flow

Mass burials in Sampit, as refugees flow

JAKARTA (JP): With thousands of refugees continuing to flow
out of Sampit, Central Kalimantan, officials in Sampit began to
dig up mass graves during the long weekend to give those who died
a decent burial.

Some 150 bodies were buried in a mass grave on Sunday
afternoon.

"We worked based on reports from locals on the location of
bodies that have not yet been tended to. We are trying to bury
them properly," Fachruddin, who heads the victims' search team in
East Kotawaringin regency, said as quoted by Antara on Monday.

The search team was in Parebok village in Mentaya Hilir
Selatan district and helped on Monday with tending to seven
bodies from a total of 30 victims of violence which occurred near
the Libasut Taqwa Islamic boarding school.

"The rioters did not destroy the mosque or other worship
places as this is not about religion...it was just aimed at the
Madurese," Fachruddin said.

He added that work would continue for a few more days as there
are reports of bodies at other places awaiting proper burial.

The ethnic riot in Sampit and its surrounding area has claimed
at least 357 lives and caused a mass exodus of migrant Madurese
and other ethnic groups fearing the fury of the indigenous
Dayaks.

Non-official estimates put the death toll at closer to 500.

The exodus continued throughout the weekend. More than 5,000
people boarded a passenger liner bound for Java, Sgt. Henrik
Tortep, a police officer in a river port town near Sampit said.

"Some 100 security officers safeguarded the embarkation,"
Tortep remarked.

It is believed that some 22,000 people, mostly settlers or
descendants of settlers from the island of Madura in East Java,
have left Central Kalimantan since violence began more than two
weeks ago.

But as many as 16,000 refugees may still be left stranded in
camps and shelters around Sampit waiting for ships to take them
away.

In Sampit on Monday, Madurese refugees held a mass prayer to
mark the Islamic holy day of Idul Adha at the compound of the
district chief's office under tight security.

Meanwhile Central Kalimantan Governor Asmawi Agani welcomed on
Monday the planned visit of East Java Governor Imam Utomo to
Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, in a bid to start good faith talks between
the locals and migrants.

In Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government
will wait for a 'green light' from the local government before
moving the refugees back to Sampit.

"I think we need more time because we do not want to return
them (the refugees) to Sampit while the situation there is still
tense. I want things to be more peaceful in Central Kalimantan,"
Susilo said on Monday.

Susilo stressed the need for local and religious leaders to
discuss the situation and find solutions to prevent such conflict
from recurring, before the Madurese refugees return.

Earlier in Yogyakarta on Sunday, Susilo warned that force
could be used by the government if violence does not abate.

"If we think it's necessary, we will announce a state of
emergency in Sampit," he said. (44/edt/dja)