Search for 'KM Mulya Star' ship survivors continues

Search for 'KM Mulya Star' ship survivors continues

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Rescuers continued on Monday the search
for survivors of the KM Mulya Star ship carrying no less than 43
passengers and crew that sank off the Manipa strait near Buru
Island in Central Maluku regency on Friday night.

As of Monday afternoon, 15 people were still unaccounted for,
said Eastern Fleet security chief Commodore Djoko Sumaryono.

"We have started to evacuate a total of 25 survivors and three
bodies to their home village in Ieti of West Seram district,"
Djoko said.

He said three warships, a Nomad maritime surveillance aircraft
and a number of fishing boats were still searching for survivors.

"It's been three days since the ship sank due to strong waves
and wind.. but we will continue the effort until the search is no
longer feasible. We have to be optimistic," he said.

The wooden-hulled vessel was on its way from Piru in Seram
Island to Probolinggo, a port in East Java, officials said. It
was also loaded with 100 tons of dried coconut and 20 tons of
cloves.

Ferry ships of this kind rarely come equipped with life
jackets or life boats.

Separately, a 34-passenger speedboat capsized in the waters
off Suli village in the Salahutu district of Central Maluku
regency at around 9:30 a.m. on Monday. All 33 people were saved,
but one is being treated at the Halong Naval Hospital.

The vessel was on its way from Masohi in the Seram islands to
the Passo port in Ambon when huge waves hit the boat and rolled
it over, a hospital staff member said.

"They were saved by the coast guard and locals who witnessed
the incident from Suli beach," the paramedic said.

In July, a ferry carrying more than 500 Christian refugees and
crew fleeing the ravaged Halmahera Island in North Maluku sank
off the Sangihe Talaud waters in North Sulawesi.

Previously, the Masnait ferry carrying Maluku refugees sank
off Ambon in May, resulting in the death of more than 40 people.

Meanwhile in Ambon, coordinator of expert staff for civil
emergency Paula Renyaan held an emergency briefing on Monday to
discuss an overnight "provocative speech" allegedly initiated by
Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Al Jamaah (Jihad Force) commander Jafar
Umar Thalib. Also present at the meeting were Pattimura Military
Command chief of staff Col. Agus Suyitno and Maluku Police deputy
chief Sr. Supt. Tommy Yacobus.

Spokesman for the Civil Emergency Post Maj. Marthen Luther
said the Jihad Force held a massive prayer on Sunday at the Al
Fatah mosque in Waehaong area.

The speech was also recorded and aired by the Gema Suara
Muslim Maluku radio station, causing tensions among residents, he
said.

"I have reported this to the civil emergency executors who are
still in Jakarta to meet with President Abdurrahman Wahid.
Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Pattimura Military chief Brig.
Gen. I Made Yasa and Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani
are expected to arrive here on Tuesday," he said.

The administration has recommended the radio station be
thoroughly checked.

"If it (the station) turned out to be illegal or helped spread
provocative statements, we might ban it according to prevailing
regulations," officer Marthen added.

"The content of the recording aired was very provocative, such
as those saying that they (Jihad Force) will not stop until Ambon
is ruled by the Muslims," a local journalist said.

Agus Wattimena, a local grass root leader, regretted the
incident.

"We do not need more war. I think if we want to start
reconciliation and rehabilitation, outsiders such as the Jihad
Force must stop provoking people and leave Maluku," he said.
(49/edt)