Doubts still linger over truce in West Kalimantan

JAKARTA (JP): A week after the last reports of ethnic violence in West Kalimantan, tension in the capital Pontianak has gradually subsided but doubts linger that the week-old truce between the native Dayaks and the migrant Madurese will survive.

Reliable sources on the clashes which reportedly caused "hundreds" of casualties are proving hard to find. Residents contacted by telephone, however, said they were uncertain that peace would last and enmity end.

The latest clash took place on Feb. 18 in Sungai Kunyit district when armed Dayaks attacked Madurese migrants in retaliation over the latter's raid and assault on Dayak women.

"There are those in the Dayak community who believe they can no longer live side by side with Madurese," a resident said.

He said some Dayaks were convinced that all the Madurese had to leave the province or "there won't be any real truce at all."

However, the resident also said an increasing number of Dayaks said they would respect and uphold the truce only if it was signed in the presence of "the most powerful figure in the country." He was referring to President Soeharto.

Another person contacted by The Jakarta Post concurred and said that peace between the Madurese and the indigenous Dayak people could be reached "only if the Madurese leave the province."

"There were many school students from nearby areas who came here asking for protection when the clashes broke out earlier this month," the resident of the Pontianak regency district of Air Besar told the Post.

"Now, everyone has gone home, because there are no more Madurese living here. We hope peace will come eventually," he said.

A Pontianak resident said he had been sheltering two Dayak housemaids since rumors broke out early this month that a Madurese mob planned to attack houses employing Dayak housemaids. (aan)