Brimob officers return to their base

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Brigade (Brimob) officers were withdrawn on Tuesday from Sampit,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)