Sampit tense again after guns go missing

Sampit tense again after guns go missing

SAMPIT, Central Kalimantan (JP): Tension rose in the riot-torn
town of Sampit again on Tuesday following the disappearance of
six guns and 80 sets of military uniforms despite the security
forces effort to restore order in the area, an official said.

The official, who requested anonymity, said that the guns and
uniforms had probably been stolen by locals.

"But we think the incident is a little odd since most locals
or Madurese migrants, who have yet to leave Sampit, are spending
most of their energy looking for food supplies. Why on earth
would they take military uniforms? We are worried that whoever
lies behind the stealing is planning to generate more chaos in
the area," he said.

The Jakarta Post was unable to reach local security officers
for confirmation. But the reports on the missing weaponry and
uniforms were also launched by SCTV private television station on
Tuesday evening.

The river town of Sampit remained subdued on Tuesday as
residents feared proceeding as normal with daily activities
outside their dwellings. To further consolidate this atmosphere,
sounds of gunfire were still a regular occurrence, and secondary
sources claim that these originated from gunfights between
military and police troops, an official said.

All activities remained more or less paralyzed in western and
northern parts of Sampit, including the district of Parenggean,
170 kilometers north of Sampit, and Cempaga district, some 70
kilometers north of the river town.

The local administration's calls for schools to resume after
the Idul Adha Islamic Day of Sacrifice holiday were also
unheeded. Most schools were still closed.

East Kotawaringin regent Wahyudi K. Anwar said the situation
was quite understandable. "Parents are afraid of letting their
children go to school. Besides, most of the teachers and the
pupils have either already left town or are staying at refugee
shelters," he said by phone from Sampit.

The regent further added that since the protracted 20-day
riots the regency's earnings had dropped sharply from some Rp 35
billion per day to only around Rp 17.5 billion per day.

More than 400 Madurese have been killed during the mayhem,
which erupted on Feb. 18. The remainder of these Madurese
migrants have been forced to flee their homes for safety.

The latest data from the local administration states that some
40,000 refugees have left Sampit, heading for cities in East Java
while around 20,000 others are living in refugee camps.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono underlined on Tuesday
that President Abdurrahman Wahid's plan to visit Sampit would be
necessary for reasons of reconciliation.

"A visit by the head of government will be useful to encourage
social integration and society building," Susilo told a media
conference after a meeting with Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri at her office.

Abdurrahman, who is scheduled to arrive home early on
Wednesday morning, will leave for Sampit a few hours later
(today) and will spend the night in Palangkaraya.

"The President will talk with local authorities and local
traditional and religious figures in Sampit. He also wants to
hear and see the handling of the refugees in the area," Susilo
said.

Haj

The mayhem in Sampit has apparently affected haj pilgrims from
Central Kalimantan.

Religious Affairs minister Tolchah Hasan, in his capacity as
the leader of Indonesian haj pilgrims, has instructed the
ministry's secretary general to have the haj pilgrims from
Central Kalimantan, especially those from Sampit, temporarily
accommodated in Surakarta and Semarang as soon as they arrive
back in Indonesia next week.

"Those who cannot make it home in Central Kalimantan for
security reasons will stay at haj dormitories in Surakarta and
Semarang at the expense of the Ministry of Religious Affairs,"
Tolchah said.

Central Kalimantan sent a total of 2,607 pilgrims, 1,298 of
whom embarked from Surakarta, the rest from Semarang.

In Surabaya, deputy governor Imam Supardi said that the East
Java administration guaranteed the safety of its people,
regardless of their race and religion.

"The administration is responsible for its residents' safety.
There is no reason for them to worry about their safety," he said
referring to rumors that Madurese people may take revenge on
Kalimantan migrants in Surabaya.

"National Police chief (Gen. Surojo Bimantoro) has also
guaranteed this. We can count on his word," said Supardi.

He said that there were around 44,000 refugees from Sampit
held at temporary camps in several towns across East Java.

According to Supardi, President Abdurrahman and the National
Social Welfare Agency (BKSN) had donated Rp 200,000 each for the
refugees, while vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri donated
20,000 boxes of bread and crackers and mineral water. "We
received all the donations last week, and we have distributed
them to the refugees."

He added that 12 doctors had been sent to refugee camps in
Bangkalan and Sampang on Madura Island. Pharmaceutical industries
have also taken part in handling the refugees, he said.
(edt/sur/dja/nur)