UNPATTI vows to stay open despite damage

AMBON, Maluku (JP): State-run Pattimura University vowed on Friday to remain open despite massive damage to its 30-hectare campus.

Most buildings were gutted when the campus came under armed attack on July 4, raising doubts about whether classes could resume when the semester holiday ends in September.

The university, once seen as a symbol of neutrality in the Christian-Muslim conflict in Maluku, became the latest victim of arbitrary violence this month.

Rector Mus Hulisenan told journalists after an emergency meeting with lecturers on Friday the government had decided lectures for the university's some 7,000 students must continue even if they had to be held under "the roof of the sky or in the open air".

"Classes will be held in any available building," the rector added.

The university has given its staff lecturers two moths to report to the campus. Deans and administrators who fail to return on time will be released, Mus said.

The university is coordinating with other state universities in Indonesia to find places for its students who wish to transfer because of the sectarian unrest in Ambon, he said.

The rector also said he had met with Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono and Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin this week.

"Ibu Mega asked for a quick assessment of the losses. Several donors have stated their readiness to repair the campus.

"Juwono said he was coordinating security for the campus with the Indonesian Military to prevent further attacks," he said.

Almost all of the university's buildings, many recently constructed, were destroyed in a week of violence early this month. Material losses were extensive, with the cost of each destroyed building estimated at Rp 10 billion.

Meanwhile, gunfire and explosions were heard in Ambon on Thursday night.

Armed assailants from Tulehu and Liang villages attacked Kampung Waai for the second time this month, witnesses said.

Around 3,000 people who lost their homes in the first raid were living amid the debris of their destroyed houses when they were attacked again.

"They fled to the foot Mt. Salahutu," Rev. A.J. Jambormias of Waai's Maluku Protestant Church said on Thursday.

There were no reports of casualties.

Meanwhile, the head of the PT Telkom office in Paso, Silooy, said numerous areas of Maluku had no communications because of major technical problems with the telephone system.

He said some 2,000 lines in Galala, Paso, the western part of Seram islands, Saparua island, Haruku island and Nusa Laut were effected.

Service will not be restored for at least 20 days because Telkom must bring in technicians and equipment from Makassar, South Sulawesi, he said.

Meanwhile, dozens of people, including 12 police officers, were seriously injured on Thursday in clashes in Sorong, Irian Jaya, between Maluku refugees and locals.

The refugees, who were fleeing violence in their villages, received a hostile reception when they attempted to disembark at Sorong Port. Police were sent in to quell the clashes.

Sorong General Hospital identified the locals who were wounded by stray bullets as Frans Tarage, Alfred Taresai, David Iba, Yance Bleskadit, Yulianus Kaisina. Another victim has not been identified. A police officer suffered a stab wound.

During the violence at the port, an unidentified refugee reportedly died on one of the ships, while others jumped into the sea and swam ashore. Many became separated from their relatives during the chaos.

The refugees were eventually given shelter in churches in Sorong. The majority of them said they were hoping eventually to sail to Manado, North Sulawesi. (49/48/edt)