Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – Responding to reports on the ill treatment of members of the Shia Muslim community in Sampang, Madura, the Indonesian Ombudsman said it would send an investigative team to the area.

Ombudsman deputy chairman Azlaini Agus said the team would look into reports of neglect on the part of the local administration as well as probe claims that the government had stopped the provision of food and water for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been taking shelter at a local sports stadium for more than three months.

"They [the IDPs] should have not spent that long in a camp. The local administration has further violated regulations by stopping daily supplies. The government is obliged by law to provide services for the people," Azlaini told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a hearing with House of Representatives Commission II on home affairs and regional autonomy.

Ombudsman chairman Danang Girindrawardana said that representatives of the Sampung Shiites had also filed a report about their administrative documents being destroyed when their compound was torched by members of the Sunni majority in late August.

"We suggest the Sampang administration begin to verify the refugees' identification. We will dig deeper into the matter, and will consider suggesting that the Home Ministry replace the lost documents if it's urgent," he said.