Banjarmasin residents ready for poll amid tight security

Banjarmasin residents ready for poll amid tight security

By Johannes Simbolon

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): Residents, recovering from
the shock of Friday's riot and arson that claimed 123 lives, are
preparing for tomorrow's general election amid rumors of more
unrest.

Life proceeded normally until sunset yesterday, when men came
out to guard their houses until the curfew came into effect at 10
p.m.

Kalimantan Regional Military Commander Maj. Gen. Namoeri Anoem
S. said that security personnel were ready to ensure a safe
election, and would get tough on anyone trying to disrupt it.

He said that a "shoot on the spot" order had not been issued,
but promised that his personnel would resort to this "last
option" if necessary.

Namoeri said locals had nothing to fear.

"The situation is completely under control. Rumors about more
arson and attacks in various areas are just that, rumors. Don't
help them spread further," he was quoted by Antara as saying
after meeting Governor Gusti Hasan Aman.

About 50,000 people rioted in the town last Friday, some of
them wore United Development Party (PPP) green and some were
Golkar supporters.

The riot began when supporters of Golkar, campaigning for the
last time there, paraded noisily on vehicles past the Noor mosque
in the town's center.

People, said to have been provoked because campaigning had
started before the Friday prayer had finished, rampaged,
ransacking and setting ablaze hundreds of houses, several
supermarkets, cinemas, hotels, churches, and tens of vehicles.

The Indonesian Council of Ulemas' chairman Hasan Basri said
Sunday he had been trapped inside a burning hotel before being
rescued about five hours after he had seen the rioting and fires
begin.

Police and soldiers regained control of the town after
reinforcements arrived from Jakarta late Friday night. On
Saturday, they found 121 charred bodies inside the town's largest
shopping center, Mitra Plaza, and the remains of two others at
the Lima Cahaya supermarket.

Victims

Officials have said the 121 victims were looters who got
trapped in the fire. The charred bodies, most of which could not
be identified, would be buried in one grave Friday, said South
Kalimantan acting police spokesman Kusbini Imbar yesterday.

Kusbini told The Jakarta Post that police had not been
prepared for the riot. Only 250 police had been deployed to face
the 50,000 rioters.

He said the provincial police force, confident about security
in the town, had sent about 100 personnel to Jakarta before
Friday to help contain campaign violence in the capital.

"In addition, we didn't have enough teargas cannons and rubber
bullets. But we refrained from shooting during the riot to stop
the situation worsening," he said.

Kusbini said about 1,000 security personnel from Jakarta and
East Kalimantan had arrived since Friday to help guarantee
security for the election, and that more reinforcements would
arrive.

Police believed the riot was organized by "members of certain
organizations" but police were still gathering evidence to
capture them, he said without elaboration.

Governor Gusti Hasan Aman has blamed "intellectual actors" for
the unrest.

The PPP South Kalimantan branch's chief, Syafriansyah, refused
to comment about the unrest: "I will only comment after the
election."

In Jakarta, the National Commission on Human Rights'
secretary-general, Baharuddin Lopa, announced that a fact-finding
team would be sent to Banjarmasin tomorrow.

Lopa said he would lead the team, accompanied by Maj. Gen.
(ret) Syamsudin, Mohammad Salim, Soetandyo Wignjosoebroto and
Asmara Nababan.

Lopa said his team would seek to clarify why there had been
differing accounts of riot casualties. Police have said 123 died,
while media reports have put the death toll between 133 and 142.

The chairman of the Nusantara legal aid foundation's Jakarta
chapter, Desmond J. Mahesa, appealed yesterday for respect and
proper identification of the victims labeled "criminals" by
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Nurfaizi.

Desmond had asked Lopa in a meeting to ensure that the rights
commission would verify the victims' identities and clear the
innocent victims' names in the Banjarmasin riots.

Rights body -- Page 2