Unrest in Ambon yields 30,000 new refugees

AMBON, Maluku (JP): Continuing unrest has swelled the number of refugees by about 30,000, adding to the 40,000 displaced people in the capital and 35,000 others in Tual Island.

Deputy governor Paula Renyaan, who is also the chairwoman in charge of assistance to refugees, revealed the latest estimates on Monday during a break in a meeting between authorities and young people from the disputing sectarian groups.

The meeting, which was in its second day, was closed to the media. Governor Saleh Latuconsina only said it was aimed at understanding "the complaints among youth" in the Muslim and Christian communities.

The governor said stocks were enough "until the end of the year" for rice, other foodstuffs and medicine, but their supply would be severely affected if violence continued in the province.

"We do not know until when we can maintain an adequate food supply," he said.

Meanwhile, police announced that 31 died in the riots last week, including bodies found with slash wounds dumped in various areas around the city. More than 300 people have died since the violence erupted in January.

Another school was set on fire on Monday. The elementary school in the Poka low-income residential area was the fourth burned since the communal clashes began in January. No one was injured because the school had been vacated by government order.

Maluku Police chief Col. Bugis M. Saman said on Monday the 31 dead included a body found over the weekend, wrapped in plastic and bearing slash wounds.

He said 116 people were severely injured, including two security personnel. Fourteen security personnel were among the 60 who suffered minor injuries. Police are still questioning 35 people suspected of instigating the riots.

Meanwhile, survivors in hospitals have said many more severely wounded residents were seen running toward forested areas.

Journalists here said an officer who sustained gunshot wounds was Ambon Police chief Lt. Col. Gufron.

Bugis also said 350 homes were burned down last week, but journalists estimated the number was at least 600.

Bugis said 106 shops, mostly belonging to Chinese-Indonesians, were set on fire. This is in addition to the more than 100 shops burned by rioters since January.

Pattimura Military Commander Brig.Gen. Max Tamaela urged people to directly report to him if they were not satisfied with the attitude of his soldiers, or if the latter showed bias during their operation.

On Thursday, he issued a shoot-on-sight order for rioters who refused to surrender or were endangering people's safety. (48/anr)