REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA -- Hundreds of shi'ite evacuees from Sampang in the island of Madura have not yet been allowed to return home to celebrate the end of the fasting month for security reasons.
"They have indeed been evicted from their homes in Sampang to a sports center and later to a flat in Jemundo, Sidoardjo, East Java, for the past two years" a coordinator of YLBHU, a legal aid foundation, Hertasning Ichlas, said here on Sunday.
He said the coordinator of the Sampang Shi'ite evacuees, Ikli Al Milal, has sent a short message and pictures to him describing the obstacles they had to face if they would return to Sampang.
"I just now asked for a permit to BNPB to visit my parents in law in Pamekasan (Madura) but I was not given one. According to Irfan (BNPB) the ban applies to those wishing to go to Madura in general and Sampang in particular," he said quoting Ikli's text message.
He expressed regret that despite all reconciliation efforts that have been made so far they were still not allowed to return to their home villages.