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)