• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=7/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=MOLUCCAN REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264572
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  The International Organization for Migration, 
I-O-M, says a ferry boat carrying more than 15-hundred 
Christians fleeing sectarian fighting in the 
Indonesian region of Molucca has arrived safely in 
West Timor.  Lisa Schlein has details from Geneva.
TEXT:  The International Organization for Migration 
says the boatload of refugees left the Moluccan 
capital, Ambon, on Monday and arrived in the West 
Timorese capital, Kupang, Tuesday evening. 
I-O-M spokesman, Jean-Philippe Chauzy says this is 
believed to be the first time refugees fleeing the 
fighting in the Moluccas have gone to West Timor.
            ///CHAUZY ACT///
      Most of them actually fled Ambon without any 
      luggage.  Some of them actually swam to get onto 
      the ferry that was anchored off the coast of 
      Ambon.  We have stories of people saying that 
      their houses were burned down, that firing and 
      shooting was going on in Ambon and that's the 
      main reason they said they simply fled in a 
      panic.  The only way to get out on Monday anyway 
      was this ferry, which was anchored off the coast 
      of Ambon.  
            ///END ACT///
Mr. Chauzy calls the voyage a risky undertaking.  He 
says the ferry was at full capacity and the sea, at 
this time of year, can be very treacherous.   Earlier 
this month, an overloaded ferry carrying Moluccan 
refugees sank in a storm.  About 500 people drowned.
Mr. Chauzy says when the ship arrived in Kupang in 
West Timor the I-O-M had a dozen buses waiting to 
transport the refugees to shelters, which had been set 
up in advance of their arrival.  He says about 800 
people were moved to shelters in a protestant church 
compound.  He says I-O-M will, in the coming days, 
transport those refugees who have families living in 
West Timor to their homes.  He notes the Indonesian 
authorities say they plan to move several hundred 
Moluccans to an island off the coast of West Timor.
Mr. Chauzy says the refugees include a large number of 
women and children, traumatized by their experience.
            ///2ND CHAUZY ACT///
      We've been getting some reports from some of the 
      newly arrived that some elements of the 
      Indonesian military were involved in the 
      fighting are involved in the fighting in Ambon.  
      Some of the newly arrived have told us that 
      mortars and small artillery fire were used 
      against some of the Christian quarters in Ambon.
            ///END ACT///
Mr. Chauzy says some of the people who arrived include 
former Indonesian soldiers.  He says the soldiers, who 
are Christians, are angered by the Indonesian army's 
participation in the fighting.  Nearly four-thousand 
people have died in 18 months of violence between the 
Muslim and Christian communities in Molucca. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/GE/KBK 
19-Jul-2000 08:49 AM EDT (19-Jul-2000 1249 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.