Clashes claim three lives in Pangkalan Bun
Clashes claim three lives in Pangkalan Bun
JAKARTA (JP): Communal clashes flared up in the town of
Pangkalan Bun, capital of West Kotawaringin regency in West
Kalimantan province, claiming the lives of three migrant
settlers.
Antara reported on Tuesday that the killings of the Madurese
settlers by local Dayak people took place on Monday in two
places, at Kumai and at Kampung Raja.
The first incident took place at around 6 p.m. in Kumai,
around 12 kilometers from Pangkalan Bun, where two unidentified
people were killed.
The other incident occurred in Kampung Raja of South Arut
district at 11 p.m. The victim was identified as Abdussamad.
A total of 1,669 personnel from the police and military
deployed in the town seemed to have managed to control the
situation but the news agency reported that as of Tuesday
afternoon the town remained tense.
West Kotawaringin regency is about 229 kilometers away from
East Kotawaringin regency, where the bloody killings first
erupted late February. At least 500 people were killed in the
spree of violence in the town of Sampit in East Kotawaringin.
On Tuesday thousands of Madurese flocked the Kumai seaport,
trying to leave the town. They were bound for Surabaya in East
Java and Semarang in Central Java.
Antara reported that a total of 3,000 Madurese had left the
town boarding a vessel, Lauser.
An official at West Kotawaringin regency Demud Anggen
confirmed the wave of Madurese refugees but he gave a less number
of 1,800 people.
In a related development in Jakarta, National Police spokesman
Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi said at least 50 people were named as
suspects and detained by local police in West Kotawaringin
following Monday's killings.
"In the latest report from Pangkalan Bun police precinct, 83
people have been arrested but only 50 of them were finally
declared suspects. The 33 other people were released because of
lack of evidence," Didi said as quoted by Antara.
Police data stated that two people were killed and six houses
were torched. (emf)