Over 1,250 migrants to move from Kupang to S. Sulawesi

JAKARTA (JP): More than 1,250 migrants from South Sulawesi are scheduled to leave Kupang, the East Nusa Tenggara capital where unrest took place on Nov. 30, on board KM Awu on Wednesday, Antara reported.

The group will follow in the steps of some 700 others from Kupang who returned to their home area in South Sulawesi following the burning of some mosques and other facilities there. The violence was apparently retaliation by some people for the burning of churches in the Ketapang area of Jakarta on Nov. 22.

According to Mohammad Wongso, who organized the evacuation, among the evacuees are those who lost their homes in the unrest.

There were an estimated 35,000 South Sulawesi migrants -- known here as Bugis people -- earning their livelihood in Kupang as traders, fishermen and in other sectors such as transportation. "They will return to Kupang once the situation returns to normal," Wongso said.

Some South Sulawesi migrants still sheltering in certain places, including the provincial police office, have been receiving food aid and other assistance from fellow Bugis people and members of the Catholic community in the province, the news agency said.

Police chief Maj. Sismantoro separately said 37 people have been arrested for involvement in the disturbances. "We are still investigating the case, and it's very possible that the number of suspects will grow," he said.

The news agency, without quoting sources, said members of the Civil Servants Corps and the Armed Forces, were also involved in the unrest. Sismantoro, however, said this speculation was not backed with strong evidence.

Meanwhile, it was reported that three emissaries of Religious Affairs Minister Malik Fajar arrived in Kupang on Tuesday to hold talks with residents of Solor village, which has remained blockaded since the unrest last Nov. 30.

Nahrudin K. Doni, Sahar L. Hasan and Umbu Samapaty, escorted by policemen, went straight to a local mosque to listen to what villagers had to say about the riots that broke out after Kupang's Christian community held a "mourning" over the burning of several churches in Jakarta.

One of the emissaries, Nahrudin, a native of Solor who now lives in Jakarta, said the burning of mosques was not done by Catholics or Protestants but by drunkards who happened to be Catholics or Protestants.

"Thus we should not think of taking revenge," he said as quoted by Antara.

Fellow emissary, Umbu, representing Protestants, denounced those who triggered the riots, saying that no religion tolerates the burning of any house of worship.

"We vow to find the culprits of the riots (that led to the torching of places of worship). We will also help rehabilitate mosques and churches that were burned or damaged during the riots," he said.

Despite repeated calls from religious leaders, tension among some groups had surfaced in various conflicts.

In a related development, hundreds of Moslems from four districts in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan, gathered at the local military office on Monday evening to pray for peace and safety for their Moslem brethren.

Led by local preacher Nawawi and riding to the venue on trucks and various other means of transportation, the group also prayed for national unity. "We are praying that our region is safe. What's more important is that unity is maintained here," Nawawi was quoted by Antara as saying.

Nawawi denied the gathering was held in connection with the attack on three mosques in Ngabang district, 190 kilometers northeast of Pontianak last Wednesday.

The news agency said the attack on one of the mosques was committed by "a mentally ill man" but did not elaborate.

In Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi, leaders of five recognized religions here gathered to pray for the safety of the nation.

The Protestant community was represented by Rev. M. Rindengan. the Catholics were represented by Father Yan Lasut, the Hindus by Ida Bagus Alit, the Buddhists by Dharma Suryo, and the Moslem community was represented by A.K. Abraham, Antara said.

Also attending were North Sulawesi Governor E.E. Mangindaan and Provincial Police Chief Col. St. Marsono. Mangindaan warned against certain parties' campaigns pitting the members of one religious group with those of other faiths to further their own interests.

"The burning and the attacks on places of worship could only be committed by people who have no faith," he asserted. "They do not know God... no religion teaches its followers to do such a cruel thing." (swe)