TERNATE - Hundreds of residents have been displaced due to clashes in West Patani District, Central Halmahera Regency, North Maluku. Currently, the police and local government are starting to repatriate residents gradually after the situation gradually becomes conducive.
Head of Public Relations of North Maluku Police Wahyu Istanto Bram said the safety of residents was the main priority in handling the post-riot.
"Public safety is the top priority. We ensure that the return of residents is safe and that basic needs are met," he said, Wednesday, April 8.
He explained that from Monday to Tuesday, April 7, residents who had fled due to clashes in Banemo Village and Sibenpopo Village began to return to their respective homes with the escort of the police.
The repatriation process was carried out using various means of transportation, ranging from Brimob buses and trucks, TNI vehicles, to the Central Halmahera Police fleet and residents' vehicles.
Upon arrival at the location, residents underwent a health examination to ensure that their condition remained stable after being in the evacuation. The local government also distributed logistical assistance to meet basic needs.
Meanwhile, North Maluku Police Chief Waris Agono emphasized that the clashes that triggered the evacuation were not related to issues of ethnicity, religion, race, and intergroup (SARA), but were triggered by provocation and the spread of hoax information.
The security apparatus appealed to the public to maintain order and prioritize the resolution of conflicts through peaceful means and legal mechanisms, in order to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
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