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

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)