Refugees want to return to Sampit

SURABAYA: Governor Imam Utomo said here on Monday most Madurese refugees displaced from Sampit and Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, by ethnic violence refused to be relocated to their hometowns in Madura, East Java.

"They are hoping to return to Sampit and are asking the local administration to guarantee their safety," Imam said while discussing the events in Sampit, which saw native Dayaks attacking Madurese migrants.

"But this is up to the central government to guarantee (their safety). Dayaks should also accept the return (of the Madurese refugees)," he said, adding that the total number of refugees from Kalimantan in East Java was about 90,000.

Imam said he would meet with the governors from all of the provinces in Kalimantan next Monday in Jakarta for two days of discussions on the matter.

"Along with Madurese figures here and also Dayaks, we will find a solution to the tragedy," he said.

Meanwhile, Achmad Zaini from the Association of Madurese Families criticized the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for leaving the tragedy in Sampit unresolved.

"They (Komnas HAM) make a big fuss about the murder of one or two people in Jakarta or East Timor, but thousands of people have been killed in Sampit and they keep quiet. They have failed and should be dismissed," Achmad said here, adding that the House of Representatives also was unresponsive.

Because of this, he said, the association planned to mobilize some 15,000 Madurese to stage a protest at the House. (nur)