Thousands of Tual refugees in desperate state
Thousands of Tual refugees in desperate state
JAKARTA (JP): Four resident representatives from the troubled
city of Tual, Southeast Maluku, pleaded on Monday for immediate
assistance for some 22,000 refugees, with many of them
malnourished children who have been dying from hunger-related
diseases, living in squalid conditions in makeshift refugee
centers in the regency.
Usman Toatubun and three friends told a media briefing held by
the University of Indonesia's medical students on Monday that as
of June, up to three refugees died daily, mostly of contagious
diseases such as measles and diarrhea. By July, following
dispatches of greatly needed assistance, the number of deaths
declined to one every three days, Usman said.
At present, more than 22,000 Muslim refugees are still
sheltered in places such as an empty market building and the Tual
navy base. Only two doctors currently serve them, Usman said.
The four representatives, who were in Jakarta on a mission to
seek legal and other kinds of assistance, revealed the atrocities
that took place since March 31, 1999, when a frenzy of killing
resulted in hundreds of deaths.
Usman insisted that unlike the unrest in the Maluku capital
city of Ambon and in Dobo regency, which were triggered by crimes
such as fighting between two people, the unrest in Tual erupted
because of racial hatred provoked by unknown people. Muslims were
insulted, their holy book and the name of the Prophet Muhammad
was desecrated, and so they fought back, he said.
Dr. Jose Rizal, who joined a medical mission to Tual recently
along with two colleagues and a group of medical students, said
the team predicted victims of the unrest, who did not die of
gunshots or from other weapons, would die of contagious diseases.
"Measles and diarrhea have become the major killers there,"
Jose said.
Usman also pleaded for help for some 5,000 children in refugee
centers who were not able to study.
The resident representatives called for greater public
attention on their plight, and asked the government to take legal
measures against those who provoked the unrest, and to help
refugees return to their villages.
Separately, prevailing tension was reported in Ambon on Monday
after a resident was shot in the back during a fire which razed
dozens of houses in a housing complex in Poka subdistrict in the
afternoon.
The resident, whose identity remains unknown, was treated at
Ambon General Hospital following the blaze which started about 3
p.m. No fatalities were reported in the incident.
The injured man was allegedly shot by mistake as he ran back
into the house to save his belongings. "The officer might have
thought he was a culprit or something," a witness told The
Jakarta Post.
In Ambon at about 6 p.m. on Monday, security officers were
forced to fire warning shots to disperse crowds after groups of
Christians and Muslims were nearly involved in a clash on Jl. Aye
Pati, the main street of the city.
Pattimura Regional Military command Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela
said the military headquarters had yet to approve his request for
an additional battalion of troops to help maintain security in
Saparua, Ponogoro and Poka, which were hit by communal clashes
from Friday night to Sunday afternoon.
"I have made the request (for additional troops) to the
Indonesian Military Forces (TNI) commander. No response so far,"
Max said on Monday.
The situation, however, was under control as locals involved
in the communal clashes were now seeking a truce among
themselves.
Following the communal clashes in Poka, at least 18 suspects
were arrested and being investigated.
Officials noted the three-day communal clashes left one person
dead, several others wounded and hundreds of houses burned and
damaged.
Meanwhile, Pattimura University rector Mus Huliselan announced
student examinations would be postponed until next Monday, due to
rising tension and security reasons.
Separately, residents also filed complaints against the
"arrogant and abusive" treatment by some military officers.
Ambon Protestant Church lawyer coordinator Sammy Wayleruni
protested on Monday a baseless arrest of 10 youths accused of
being involved in a riot. "The boys were beaten by the officers
and it turned out that the Denzipur (military engineer
detachment) was making a false arrest," Sammy told media.
The ten have been sent back to their families, he added.
(48/edt/swe)