Brimob officers return to their base
SAMPIT, Central Kalimantan (JP): Around 240 Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers were withdrawn on Tuesday from Sampit, the capital of East Kotawaringin regency, following a massive rally staged by the local Dayak community, during which one man was shot dead.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi confirmed the withdrawal, saying it was part of "a standard rotation" and was not related to Monday's protest.
"They have been doing a great job in Sampit and will be returned to their base here at National Police headquarter for more training.
"If there are rumors saying Brimob are pulling out just because of decapitation threats (aired by Dayak protesters) they are lies. Brimob personnel are trained to fight to the death. Such threats are meaningless to them," Didi said.
Didi added that no reinforcements would be sent from Jakarta to Sampit, which he considered "already calm".
During Monday's rally, protesters alleged that Brimob personnel had been causing considerable tension among locals, and threatened to pursue and behead the officers if they strayed from their temporary headquarters in the town.
According to a local police source, the Brimob personnel, deployed from the force's bases in Kelapa Dua, Depok, and Kedung Halang, Bogor, would be replaced by personnel from the base in Palangkaraya, the capital city of Central Kalimantan.
The Brimob officers from Palangkaraya also clashed with Dayak protesters during President Abdurrahman Wahid's visit to the city in March. Eight people were killed in the violence.
A spree of killings hit Sampit, after violence erupted in late February, leaving up to 300 Madurese migrants dead. Many of the victims were decapitated by the Dayak people.
Meanwhile, normality has gradually returned to the daily lives of locals in the neighboring Pangkalan Bun, in the West Kotawaringin regency, which was also hit by violence in late March.
Pangkalan Bun Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yusman Aer said the security situation was "relatively under control", with only two incidents of arson occurring on Monday.
In Jakarta, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government had made a large commitment to reconciling warring ethnic groups in the troubled province. The security forces had also intensified intelligence operations in the province.
Separately National Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro said he had ordered the Central Kalimantan police chief to persuade all local leaders to hold peace talks and maintain security in the province.(32/02/dja/ylt/emf)