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)