Violence must be comprehensively curbed: Minister<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
\nSecurity Affairs Agum Gumelar called on provincial authorities to
\ncomprehensively curb violence within their jurisdictions and to
\nprevent it from spreading to neighboring provinces.<\/p>\n
Referring to the fresh outbreaks of violence in the town of
\nPoso, Central Sulawesi, Pontianak in West Kalimantan, Ambon in
\nMaluku and the lingering unrest in the province of Aceh, Agum
\nsaid active measures were needed in the trouble spots.<\/p>\n
He said that the government had sent military and police
\nreinforcements to maintain security in the restive areas. \"This
\n(deployment) is a major burden on the country's ailing economy.\"<\/p>\n
Agum asserted that the recent disturbances in a number of
\nprovinces indicated that the people could no longer distinguish
\nbetween anarchy and democracy, as many anarchic actions were
\nbeing committed in the name of democracy and reform.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, latest reports said that the six people reported
\nmissing on Thursday in Central Kalimantan had yet to be found.<\/p>\n
Tadulako Military Command spokesman First Lt. Abdul Haris told
\nreporters in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Friday that the six
\nmissing people had been traveling in a Kijang van which was later
\nfound torched by persons unknown in the district of Lage on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
\"We have yet to identify the missing persons. And we don't
\nknow if they are dead or still alive,\" Haris said.<\/p>\n
He confirmed that the situation in Poso was still tense.<\/p>\n
Quoting official records, he said that at least 50 houses in
\nthe village of Tomata had been burned to the ground between June
\n20 and June 27.<\/p>\n
Thus far, some 1,400 military and police personnel have been
\nput on alert in the restive Poso.<\/p>\n
Three people have died in the recent violence in the town, but
\nunconfirmed reports said that four other people had also died.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara reported from the West Kalimantan capital of
\nPontianak that the local administration was encountering
\ndifficulties following the resettlement of Madurese refugees in
\nthe city.<\/p>\n
The refugees, who fled ethnic violence between Madurese
\nmigrants and indigenous residents in Sambas two years ago, have
\nbeen resettled by the Pontianak administration.<\/p>\n
The in-town resettlement has reportedly brought about social
\nproblems which have triggered the anger of locals. The locals
\nhave now set a deadline of July 1 for the administration to
\nrelocate the migrants.<\/p>\n
Speaker of the Pontianak legislative council Ali Hanafiah
\ndisagreed with the deadline, saying that such an ultimatum would
\nnot solve the problem.<\/p>\n
\"The Sambas refugees are not the problem of the local
\nadministration. It's a matter that involves the future of the
\nMadurese people and a harmonious existence among all ethnic
\ngroups in Pontianak,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"If all sides go their own way in dealing with the problem,
\nthings will deteriorate and the sectarian clashes will probably
\npersist,\" he warned. \"There are now around 8,000 refugees here
\nand dealing with the problems caused by them will not that
\neasy.\" (24\/sur)<\/p>",
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