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History of Galang island and the refugees |
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Immaculata Conception Mary Church, Site 2, before the renovation In 1974, after US army left Vietnam after the war, refugees began to left Vietnam, they left the country when they felt insecurity. Most of them had been working for US or French companies or government and much involved in religious activities. The first group of 27 people arrive at Natuna island, they struggled all the way from South China Sea, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand . They were helped by Indonesian Navy with sufficient food and pulled it back to International water but some how the boat toppled and sank, Indonesian Navy picked them and ferried them to Tanjung Pinang of Bintan Island and quarantine in Pelantar II ferry terminal . These are the boats which had brought them from Vietnam to Galang island Their present attracted many people and a Catholic priest was called upon as they are mostly Catholic, Fortunately one of them can communicate with the priest in French. During the holy mass, the priest asked for help for food, medicine, clothes and the same time the priest trying to get permission from the Navy to allow the refugees to have larger shelter as they have been weeks cramped in a small boat U N H C R (United Nation High Commission for Refugees) Catholic Church contacted UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) to help as Catholic Church has only limited resources, at that moment UNHCR office was in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, supervised by Mr. Van Rojen. Mr. Van Rojen visited them in Tanjung Pinang and since then UNHCR together with Foreign Ministry of Indonesia, Bakin (Indonesian intelligent agency), P3V (panitia penanggulangan pengungsi Vietnam or Vietnamese Refugees Support Committee), Yayasan Cipta Karya (Cipta Karya Foundation) and Indonesian Red Cross PMI are helping them. The second group arrive in Tanjung Pinang with 240 people in one boat, Indonesian Navy suppose to pulled them back to International water but as it was broke down they were pulled to Tanjung Pinang But they are not allowed to land as none of them are with sufficient immigration document. After 3 weeks awaiting for the boat being repaired by technicians from Indonesian Navy, a good Samaritan from Tanjung Pinang who willing to lend his warehouse and lobbies to authority by Catholic Church, temporary they are allowed to be sheltered there. But they are coming more and more while the warehouse capacity is only limited up to 400 people. A larger shelter is a must. The ultimate choice was Galang island as it was practically empty land, no economic value and close to Singapore so their departure to third country will be more convenient. Most of these Vietnamese refugees AKA "boat people" are highly educated people, it's known that 80% of them are Catholic and used to active in Catholic church back in Vietnam. They built 2 churches, the first was St. Joseph Church which is located on the hill and the second was St. Mary Church. include House for sister and Parish house. Due to the activities in Tanjung pinang church, the Priest requested to have external priest to serve them, In November 1977 there was an Italian Jesuit Priest, Father Dominici who accepted this call to work in Galang island, he was a perfect choice as he able to communicate in Vietnamese for his working experience as a lecturer in High Seminary in Vietnam. Father Dominici was the first full time priest in Galang Island. The daily life within the camp was monotonous, they learn foreign language according to their country of destination, French or English. UNHCR supplies food for each family every 5 days, after news about them spread to outside world, helping hands start to support them financially, and began to travel to Tanjung Pinang and trade in the camp. The refugees continue to their religious life here attending daily mass which was normally attended by around 400 - 500 people and even more during Sunday Mass, not so surprise if we look at the size of the churches. At least 3 priests from Indonesia were involved in the parish of Galang island, began with Father Dominici, Father Sugono and lastly Father Padmo, beside priests, there were sisters from Congragation of YMY (Jesus Mary Joseph) came to served them.. In the beginning they are gathered in area known as site I, but eventually their numbers had outgrown the space so UNHCR build another location in an area known as site II, beside this 2 sites, UNHCR also prepared a plot of land known as Site 3 for cemetery. Site 1 and site 2 can shelter up to 10,000 people, the largest number of people recorded were 25,000. Today along the road in the camp, we still can see many empty shelters where they used to lived, Hospital from Red Cross and also their religious buildings (Churches and Temples), now left only ruins of empty shelters, churches and statues that were built during their stayed there. They began to leave Galang island from the beginning of 1995, many of them manage to go to France, US and other sponsored countries. Each embassy screened through for those who are going to their country. Priority was given to them whom able to communicate and ever worked for US or French governments or company, have family or relatives in the destination country and professional. Some waited only for few months, some never go. This had caused severe mental stress among them resulted depression. Galang island has many sad stories to tell. But, from their new found home we also heard many success stories, Asia week magazine ever published a picture of a father playing chess with a son, the father was a chairman of the parish of Galang island. Now they are in US and the son has become one of the brightest student in one University in US. This is one short history of Churches in Galang island and the people who built and stayed there, I believe still many more untold stories kept within their heart, some are happy memories to be cherished but more are sad memories to be forgotten.
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