Amir Tejo, Surabaya – Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali said he regrets a Shia community's rejection to be moved away from Sampang, where a recent attack left two people dead. Suryadharma said the new location offered by the East Java governor is "better" than their current hometown.

"The idea is brilliant, very humane and without pressure," Suryadharma said after meeting with East Java Governor Soekarwo on Friday. "But unfortunately, there are people that don't want the problem to be solved. This is very unfortunate."

Suryadharma also said that the East Java provincial government has approached two Shia organizations, Ahlulbait Indonesia and the Association of Jemaah Ahlul Bait Indonesia (IJABI), who he said agreed to relocate the Shia refugees.

"But unfortunately Tajul Muluk, the cleric of the refugees' group, refused the moving idea," Suryadharma said. "Because their leader banned them, the follower refused government's offer."

Dozens of Shia students and teachers were attacked in the village of Karang Gayam, Sampang in East Java recently – seven were injured in addition to the two fatalities, and dozens of houses were also set on fire. In the aftermath of the attack, hundreds of Shiites are still living in the Sampang sport center.

Soekarwo proposed to move the refugees to a flat in Puspa Agro Jemundo complex in Sidoarjo, East Java; in a separate interview, East Java Deputy Governor Saifullah Yusuf said the government offered to move the Shiites because their current living conditions are very poor; some people have reportedly taken ill.

"We did not plan to relocate them," Saifullah said. "But we only considered better living for the refugees in comparison to the current shelter."

He said that there are 97 flats in Jemundo, with some 71 Shia families living as refugees.

"They will be only temporarily moved, not relocated," Saifullah added. "They will be returned when the condition in Karang Gayam and Bluuran is conducive. Meanwhile, the East Java government will rebuild the houses that have been targeted in the riots."