Situation in Bagansiapiapi returns gradually to normal<\/p>\n
M. Ara Syaf, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru<\/p>\n
Following bloody rioting in Bagansiapiapi, Rokanhilir Regency,
\nRiau, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the situation in the fishing town
\nhas gradually returned to normal, according to the local police.<\/p>\n
Adj. Sr. Comr. S. Pandiangan, spokesman for the Riau
\nProvincial Police, said the two-day riot ended after hundreds of
\ntroops had been deployed to restore security and order and all
\npolice personnel had been withdrawn from the small town.<\/p>\n
He said that Brig. Gen. Jonny Yodjana, chief of the provincial
\npolice, Col. Darmawi Chaidir, chief of the Riau Military
\nDistrict, Adj. Sr. Comr. Imron Korry, chief of the Bengkalis
\nPolice Precinct, and Rokanhilir Regent Wan Thamrin were in the
\ntown to hold peace talks with the two conflicting ethnic groups
\nand local figures.<\/p>\n
Tension in the town increased on Tuesday and Wednesday when
\none of the two conflicting groups was involved in clashes with
\nlocal police that claimed two lives.<\/p>\n
The ethnic conflict, which involved the burning of 16 houses
\non Oct. 11, was triggered by a clash between two drunken youths
\nfrom two different ethnic groups two days beforehand.<\/p>\n
Rachmat K., a resident of Bagansiapiapi, confirmed that the
\ntown had returned to normal, as most people had resumed their
\ndaily activities and many shops were open again.<\/p>\n
\"The situation has gradually returned to normal, as most
\nresidents have resumed their daily activities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jonny made an apology for the Oct. 16 bloody incident, which
\nleft two civilians dead, and pledged to punish police personnel
\nwho had allegedly been involved in the killing.<\/p>\n
\"On behalf of the police in the province, the provincial
\npolice chief makes an apology for the incident, and those
\ninvolved in the killing will be prosecuted in a tribunal,\"
\nPandiangan told a media conference here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"The killing of two civilians was the result of police
\nprocedures being violated and the four police officers who opened
\nfire against the two victims are being thoroughly interrogated by
\nthe military police,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Around 300 people, mostly Chinese descendants, took refuge in
\nremote, safe areas in the province and were housed in makeshift
\nshelters guarded by soldiers.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/situation-in-bagansiapiapi-returns-gradually-to-normal-1447893297",
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