DATE=8/11/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=SULAWESI REFUGEES
NUMBER=5-46827
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=SULAWESI, INDONESIA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In eastern Indonesia, Local leaders say as many
as 500 Muslims may have died in the latest round of
religious fighting. The violence near the city of
Poso, on the island of Sulawesi, pits Muslims against
Christians in just one of many conflicts plaguing the
Indonesian archipelago. Thousands of people have fled
their homes and are fearful and uncertain of their
futures as they wait in refugee camps. Patricia Nunan
recently visited one such camp and spoke with some of
the displaced and forgotten people.
TEXT:
/// UPSOT CRUNCHING THROUGH DEBRIS, FADE UNDER ///
Sixty-seven year old Muslim, Senggeng Saparang picks
through the remains of his home in the village
Segundhan, 17 kilometers west of Poso. Pieces of
corrugated iron -- what's left of the roof -- lie
scattered on the floor. Only the walls remain
standing.
/// SAPARANG IN INDONESIAN W/VOICE OVER ///
This is the guest room. This is the living room. This
is the children's room. This is another guest room.
/// END ACT ///
With his grey hair still cropped short, the wiry
Saparang is a retired soldier who does a bit of
farming.
/// SAPARANG TWO IN INDONESIAN W/VOICE OVER ///
For 20 years I saved my earnings to build this house.
It had only been finished for a few months. It
vanished in one hour.
/// END ACT ///
The city of Poso in central Sulawesi was once the home
to 40 thousand Muslims and Christians who lived
peacefully together. Local leaders say that changed
when politicians stirred up ethnic and religious
tensions as part of their efforts to win local office.
Gang fights between the two religious groups broke out
and quickly went out of control earlier this year.
Saparang is one of thousands of Muslims who has been
living in a refugee camp since a mob of Christians
calling themselves the "reds" rampaged through
villages surrounding Poso in May. Muslim leaders say
up to 500 people may have been killed. Among the
dead, Saparang believes are eight of his children and
grandchildren.
/// SAPARANG THREE IN INDONESIAN W/VOICE OVER ///
We haven't found the bodies but obviously they must
have been slaughtered. It's been nearly two months -
50 days.
/// END ACT ///
Saparang and other Muslims are not the only people
living in fear.
/// UPSOT -- REFUGEE CAMP CHATTER ///
Thousands of Christians also fled their homes for the
safety of refugee camps after the killings. Most were
not victims of violence, but fear that at any moment,
the Muslims might launch revenge attacks.
/// CHRISTIANS IN INDONESIA W/ VOICE OVERS ///
MAN: We left because of threats People were saying,
"Finish off the Christians."
WOMAN: Nothing has happened yet. I'm just afraid,
seeing what happened to other villages.
/// END ACT ///
Certainly Saparang doesn't want to see the cycle of
tit for tat killings continue.
/// SAPARANG FOUR IN INDONESIAN W/VOICE OVER ///
I have no feelings of revenge or hatred. What else can
be done? Maybe I wasn't meant to live in this house.
Only god knows.
/// END ACT ///
The Indonesian police and military have sent
reinforcements to central Sulawesi - and bloodshed has
not erupted for weeks. But military leaders
have voiced concern that the troops could begin
participating in the clashes between the religious
groups, as has already happened in nearby Maluku
province -- another site of religious killings.
The Muslim and Christian refugees may have more in
common than they think. Almost all say they'd like to
return to their villages soon. But they also say they
won't leave the safety of the camps until they're sure
that violence won't erupt again. (signed)
NEB/HK/PN/JO/PLM
11-Aug-2000 06:19 AM EDT (11-Aug-2000 1019 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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