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Still unlikely that Shiites will return home
Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi defended on Monday the recent move by local authorities to prohibit hundreds of internally displaced Shiites from returning to their homes in Sampang, Madura, for Idul Fitri or visiting their relatives in other areas of the island, saying the reconciliation itself was still an ongoing process
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ome Minister Gamawan Fauzi defended on Monday the recent move by local authorities to prohibit hundreds of internally displaced Shiites from returning to their homes in Sampang, Madura, for Idul Fitri or visiting their relatives in other areas of the island, saying the reconciliation itself was still an ongoing process.
'It [the reconciliation] is still underway, [overseen by a team] led by UIN [Sunan Ampel State Islamic University] rector [Abd A'la],' Gamawan said on Monday at the State Palace after he paid a visit to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during an Idul Fitri open-house event.
'If local residents are already able to accept [them], and if the situation is conducive, of course we [the government] want them to return home,' Gamawan said.
Shiites from Sampang were evicted from their homes two years ago and spent Idul Fitri this year in temporary housing in Sidoarjo, East Java.
Previously, Universalia Legal Aid Foundation coordinator Hertasning Ichlas revealed that Ikli Al Milal, coordinator for the internally displaced Sampang Shiites, had sent him a message to explain that they were facing difficulties in returning home to celebrate Idul Fitri and that local authorities had cited security concerns.
According to Hertasning, the displaced Shiites and the local community had also agreed to reconcile as part of a 'peace for people' program.
