Congress turns ugly

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)