Madurese association calls for restraint<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The nationwide Madura Community Association
\n(Ikamra) on Tuesday urged all Madurese affected by the bloody
\npogroms in Central Kalimantan to exercise restraint and allow the
\nmatter to be resolved through the legal process.<\/p>\n
\"Basically, what the Madurese want is for the government to
\ntake rigorous legal action and not allow this incident to go
\nunresolved as that would set a very bad legal precedent,\" Didik
\nJ. Rachbini, a noted economist and executive of Ikamra, told a
\nmedia briefing late on Tuesday at the Hotel Peninsula.<\/p>\n
Didik said that the group had also concluded that the conflict
\nwas not religious in origin.<\/p>\n
\"Conflicts can be sparked in various ways. We agree that this
\nmatter has no connection with religion,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The group further condemned the \"systematic and continuous
\nkilling spree\" targeting Central Kalimantan people of Madurese
\ndescent and demanded that the government protect residents from
\nanarchy \"so that the pogroms will not spread to other areas\".<\/p>\n
Also present at the unusual event were former Bukit Barisan
\nmilitary chief Maj. Gen. Rahman Gaffar, former attorney general
\nSoedjono Chanafiah Atmonegoro, political lecturer Amir Santoso
\nand former army chief of staff Gen. (ret) Hartono.<\/p>\n
Hartono, however, did not join the media briefing and left
\nshortly after the closed-door meeting was over.<\/p>\n
Didik further said that a crisis center would soon be
\nestablished to monitor developments in respect of the bloody
\nriots that have forced thousands of Madurese to flee to East
\nJava.<\/p>\n
\"If there are Madurese hoodlums involved, they must be
\narrested. But, that doesn't mean the existence of thugs can be
\nused as an excuse to decapitate innocent people,\" Didik added.<\/p>\n
General Rahman stressed that the number of casualties in the
\nSampit and Palangkaraya pogroms was around 900, much higher than
\nofficially reported.<\/p>\n
\"These victims are a mix of indigenous people and migrants,\"
\nRahman said, while urging people in Java to be compassionate and
\nwilling to adopt Madurese children left orphaned as a result of
\nthe disturbances.<\/p>\n
Separately, Coordinating Minister for Social, Political and
\nSecurity Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told a hearing at the
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR) that so far 277 bodies had been
\nidentified following postmortem examinations.<\/p>\n
\"But that number does not include those in the jungles and
\nother remote areas, so the number could be higher,\" Susilo said.<\/p>\n
\"We realize that every time there is a conflict it will mean
\nanother lost generation for the country,\" Didik added. (02\/edt)<\/p>",
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