KuKu Camp

KuKu is temporary camp built by UNHCR and placed under local authority administration on Jemaja island which belongs to Martak archipelago. I  lived for a month with about 300 other people in this camp under horrible living conditions: no food distributed, no medical assistance provided, and our women were regularly sexually abused by Indonesian soldiers. Consequently, by the time we were picked up by UNHCR, four refugees had already died and  been buried in this remote island. 

The following excerpt is taken from "The Boat People: Imprints on History - Lloyd Duong" illustrated the point I made :

" A temporary camp named Kuku on Jemaja Island was another hell within the Indonesian territories. On this island where Vietnamese arrives were held temporarily in military tents before their refugee-screening interview and subsequent transfer to other centers such as Pulau Galang refugee camp, Indonesian soldiers often kidnapped female Asylees and gang raped the victims at nights between 1989 and 1990.[5] According to Ms. Nguy?n Th? Th?y, a boat person encamped in Kuku camp now residing in Toronto, Canada, the victims and their families did not dare to complain to international agencies because they feared for their safety. The calamity was unfolded only after a female victim’s uncle was beaten to death by Indonesian soldiers when he resisted their beast-like raid; the uncle’s terrible fate sparked diplomatic intervention and eventually ended the Indonesian savage grip on the defenseless refugees.[6] "

Other than those harsh conditions, this island is truly a paradise for tourists with beautifully untouched white beaches, and naturally crystal clear water . I wish to return to this place when time allows.

The following are sketches drawn in KuKu, Indonesia during 6/89 period
 

Camp Office - viewed from the beach. The commander opened a grocery store in this building using  UNHCR rations for refugees  to sell to those fortunate ones who could afford to buy, since most of our valuables were confiscated when we first arrived here

Wooden Barracks - where refuge took shelter at night. It was too hot to stay during the day, but still was a better place than a fuel depot which late comer had to reside instead. We learned so many somber stories told by those who had come before us and left theirs on the walls