Clash Between Chinese Workers and Morowali Residents: 21 Repatriated, 53 Under Examination
The Central Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda) have repatriated 21 Chinese foreign workers to their home country following a clash with local residents at the operational area of PT Astima Konstruksi (Askon) in Morowali Regency, which took place last weekend.
Director of General Criminal Investigations at Central Sulawesi Polda, Senior Commissioner Suryono, confirmed the repatriation of the workers. He said the 21 workers from PT Karyatama Konawe Utara (KKU) had been sent home because they were not proven to be involved in the unrest.
“Yes, in the development of this case, 21 foreign workers from PT Karyatama Konawe Utara (KKU) have returned to their country of origin,” Suryono said in a statement on Thursday (8/10).
“They have no connection with the riot at PT Astima Konstruksi,” he added.
A joint investigative team from Morowali Police and the Central Sulawesi Polda Criminal Investigation Directorate is currently focusing on examining the remaining 53 foreign workers, who are strongly suspected of being linked to the disturbance at the PT Askon site.
“Fifty-three other foreign workers are currently undergoing examination, and one foreign worker is still receiving medical treatment. The examinations are being carried out to investigate their links to the riot that occurred in Morowali,” Suryono explained.
“Investigators are still looking into the statements and facts related to the incident,” he concluded.
Earlier, security forces evacuated a total of 75 Chinese workers from the site to the Central Sulawesi Polda headquarters to calm the situation following the clash. Joint personnel were also deployed in Morowali to anticipate further security disturbances.
“Yes, that is correct. We have evacuated 75 foreign nationals and taken them to the Central Sulawesi Polda headquarters for examination,” said Morowali Police Chief AKBP Reza Khomeini on Sunday (4/10).
Regarding casualties, Reza detailed that both sides had suffered injuries.
“Based on preliminary casualty data up to Saturday (3/10), three Indonesian citizens and one foreign national were injured. One foreign national who was injured is currently being treated,” he said.
Morowali Police Public Relations Section Head Ipda Yunus said the tension began with a residents’ protest at the PT Askon operational area on Friday (2/10). Police suspect a miscommunication triggered the escalation of the protest into a physical clash.
“From what we hear, there was a protest, and then perhaps a miscommunication led to chaos there. But for certainty, we are still gathering data,” Yunus said.