Camelia Pasandaran – East Java's beleaguered Shiite community have struggled to support themselves since the Indonesian government cut off supplies to the 60 families taking shelter at a Sampang sports center six days ago.

The Indonesian government stopped sending food and water to the displaced community six days ago, according to Amnesty International. Government officials claim they lack the funds to support the community, the NGO said.

"On 18 November, the local authorities cut off [the] water supply to the complex," Amnesty International said. "On 22 November they halted food supplies. The displaced community have been forced to use their limited funds to purchase food and water."

Some 175 members of Karang Gayam village's Shiite community were displaced from their homes after a mob of local Sunni Muslims attacked the Shia hamlet, torching homes and assaulting Shiites in a wave of violence that left two dead and a half dozen injured.

The community sought shelter at the Wijaya Kusuma Sports Center, in Sampang, where they received government aid. But six days ago that aid dried up, according to a local Shiite leader.

"After they cut off the supplies, volunteers still provided us with meals," Iklil al Milal said. "But today, I had to spend Rp 400,000 on raw food to be cooked here."

The families also have to buy water for the center's toilets and to wash clothes, Iklil said. "We have to buy water as well for the toilets and for washing," he said.

Some members of the community have resisted a government plan to relocate them to new housing, citing fears that similar sectarian tensions could arise in an unknown location. "Even in our own villages we were attacked," Iklil said. "There is no guarantee that it won't happen in a new place."

The Shiites have complained of harassment from local Sunni leaders who have forced more than 30 Shiites to convert to Sunni Islam under threat of having their homes set ablaze. Local Sunni leaders have said the Shiites are free to return to their homes if they convert to Sunni Islam.

Last week, a small group left the center to meet with members of the House of Representatives' commission on religion, social issues, natural disasters and women's empowerment. Iklil said the group asked for the commission's help, but was instead met with insults and racial slurs.

One lawmaker doubted the group's claims while another, Rukmini Buchori, of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said the group was disliked because people from Madura were loud and ill-tempered.

"I don't understand how that man from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle who claimed he's also a Madurese could say something like that," Iklil said.

Iklil said the group wanted to return home and get on with their lives. They were not afraid of a second wave of anti-Shiite violence, he said. "The mob that attacked us, 75 percent were strangers," he said. "We don't have problem with our neighbors. They even visit us here and help us."

Iklil said he was done asking for help from Indonesian lawmakers. "We could wait until we're old and there still wouldn't be help from them," he said. "They put our lives in limbo."