Dozens of skeletons found in Banjarmasin burnt mall

JAKARTA (JP): Police said yesterday that fire fighters had found dozens of skeletons inside the Mitra Plaza shopping center in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, that was burnt down in riot Friday.

Antara reported the skeletons, suspected to be human, were found in three different heaps inside the Siola Mitra clothes shop on the second floor of the four-story building.

Rescue workers had not yet evacuated the skeletons because the place was still on fire.

Banjarmasin police chief Lt. Col. Friedy Tjiptoadi was quoted by Antara as telling South Kalimantan police chief, Col. Sanimbar, that there were at least 60 skeletons.

Tjiptoadi was not available for comment.

Rescue workers have not yet entered the first, third and fourth floors because much of the building is still on fire but the news agency quoted a doctor as saying an evacuation was planned for this morning.

Earlier reports said four people were killed Friday when rioters went on a rampage and attacked and burnt hundreds of houses, shops, a Catholic church, a hotel and a bank branch.

About 80 people were injured.

Police have arrested 50 people over their alleged involvement in the riot, said to be the worst of the 27-day election campaign, which broke out when Golkar's campaign started before Moslems had finished their Friday prayer.

"We are still questioning them," Sanimbar said.

State Minister/Cabinet Secretary Saadilah Mursjid and Indonesian Council of Ulemas chairman, Hasan Basri, were rescued unhurt when the hotel where they were staying at was burnt.

They were flown back to Jakarta yesterday.

The chief of Tanjungpura Military Command, Maj. Gen. Namoeri Anoem, said security had been restored and told locals to stay calm and not react to rumors spread by irresponsible people.

"We are calling on Banjarmasin people not to leave their homes at night from 8 p.m. to five in the morning during the five-day campaign cooling-off period," Namoeri said.

South Kalimantan Governor Gusti Hasan Aman condemned the rioters.

He said a third party was behind the violence.

"Their activities were well planned and controlled," he said, adding that the riot caused hundreds of billions of rupiah damage.

Indonesia ended its election campaign Friday and began a five- day cooling off period yesterday.

But tension remained in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, where thousands of students from the '45 University and Moslem University Indonesia poured on to the streets in front of their campuses to protest Golkar's attack on students during its final rally Friday.

The students were attacked for refusing to respond when Golkar supporters asked them to shout "Viva Golkar".

The protesting student group, calling itself the Students Forum for Victims of Golkar's Brutality, demanded an apology from Golkar.

The demand was turned down by Golkar which claimed its members were the victims.

The chief of Wirabuana Military Command, Maj. Gen. Agum Gumelar, met the students and apologized for the incident. He asked the students to play a football match with local military leaders.

The students agreed and then dispersed.

In Surakarta, Central Java, the head of Diponegoro Military Command, Maj. Gen. Soebagyo HS, called for calm during the cooling-off period.

"Let us avoid clashes," Soebagyo said.

The three parties were busy clearing their posters, flags and other symbols.

Everything was normal in Bandung, West Java, where groups cleared away campaign banners. Traffic was quiet.

In Pasuruan, East Java, Saifullah Damanhuri of the United Development Party's (PPP) local branch blamed police for the violence on the last day of the campaign.

At least four people were seriously injured when PPP supporters clashed with security officers.

Saifullah said the riot erupted when a police officer beat and seriously injured a PPP supporter in Bangil square.

"The crowd got out of control after the beating and started attacking buildings, including a bank branch and a church," Saifullah said.

In Jakarta, areas which were hit by riots Friday were peaceful yesterday with members of the three parties following orders to clear any campaign paraphernalia.

Before Friday midnight several areas like Manggarai in South Jakarta and Jl. Tambak in Central Jakarta were already clear of campaign signs.

In Pejompongan and on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta, people with trucks and ladders took down the signs.

In Ciputat, Tangerang, the site of one of the worst riots, the usual traffic chaos returned, while shop employees were seen patching up razed shops as best as they could.

Shattered glass was scattered along the road as was other riot debris. (06/imn/nur/31/ste/cst/37)