Congress turns ugly

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: The Central Kalimantan People's Congress here turned ugly on Tuesday as participants objected to the presentation made by noted sociologist Selo Sumardjan.

The quarrel began after Selo from the Jakarta-based University of Indonesia completed his presentation.

In his presentation, Selo remarked that the root of the conflict between the Dayak people and Madurese migrants was the negative outlook of the Dayak people toward the settlers. Selo also said that the Madurese settlers played a major role in reviving the economy in the province.

Selo and his colleague S. Budhisantosa were invited to the congress which was opened by Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Minister Surjadi Sudirdja on Monday, to offer solutions to the conflict between the native Dayak people and the migrant settlers.

A participant, Lukman Setiawan demanded Selo withdraw his statement which he claimed to have humiliated the Dayak people. (32/emf)