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The Jakarta Post


The Jakarta Post, July 20, 2007

Search ends for passengers still missing in Maluku seas

M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon

The search for missing passengers from the sinking KM Wahai Star ship has officially been called off, leaving at least 36 people still unaccounted for Thursday.

The ill-fated ship sank in Manipa waters, Maluku province, on its way to Yos Sudarso port in the provincial capital city of Ambon, from Leksula port in Buru regency on July 10. At least 36 people, including seven crew members, are still missing. But the number of missing passengers is predicted to be higher than officially listed. So far, only 42 survivors have been rescued and 14 bodies recovered. Coordinator of the search and rescue operation, Lt. Col. Effendy Bungkang, said the operation was called off seven days after the boat reportedly went down in rough waters.

"The search and rescue team's findings have been reported to Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu," Effendy said in Ambon on Thursday. He said the governor instructed the search to continue, but under the provincial administration's coordination. "The command to find the missing passengers is now under the provincial administration," Effendy said. "So information about the victims will be provided through the administration." Head of Maluku Transportation Office, Benny Gaspersz, confirmed the search and rescue team had ended their search but the administration would take over the job.

He also said the provincial administration and the ship's owner would pay insurance to the victims, after state insurance company PT Jasa Raharja declined to pay, saying the ship's owner had not paid the premium. Head of Jasa Raharja in Ambon, M. Anhari, said the company had reminded the ship's owner to pay the premium but did not get any response. "The Maluku provincial administration will coordinate with the ship's owner to handle the victims' insurance claims ...," Benny told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. Coordination might take sometime since Hengky Tansania, the ship's owner, is still being treated at Surabaya hospital in East Java.

"We will coordinate with the company and continue to search for the remaining passengers," Benny said. He said it is the obligation of the ship's owner, PT Lintas Samudera Pertiwi, to cover insurance. In reality, he said, the ship only insures passengers taking the Ambon-Leksula route and not for those taking the return Leksula-Ambon trip. "We'll hold the ship's owner responsible for this problem," Benny said without elaborating. Meanwhile, a water police vessel deployed from Bitung to help in the search sunk Wednesday in Tanjung Kayu Putih waters, in Batabual district, Buru regency. No casualties were reported in the incident.

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