Eight dead as riot hits Sampit, Central Kalimantan

Eight dead as riot hits Sampit, Central Kalimantan

JAKARTA (JP): Communal conflict erupted in Sampit, Central
Kalimantan in the wee hours of Sunday and dragged on for the rest
of the day, leaving at least eight dead.

The conflict in the East Kotawaringan regency capital erupted
after a mob attacked the Pelalangan migrant settlement area at
about 00:30 a.m. leaving five people dead and several in critical
condition.

Tension escalated throughout the rest of the day as
retaliation spread and by Sunday evening the death toll had risen
further.

Several residential buildings were also seen on fire.

Antara identified six of the fatalities as Kama, 60, Sayati,
50, Aris, 45, Kilan, 45, Matayo, 65, and Miskani, 35. Two others
have not yet been identified.

Most of the dead were reportedly residents of Pelalangan.

All outdoor activities in Sampit, about 214-kilometers west of
provincial capital Palangka Raya, ceased as shops remained closed
and most residents remained in their houses.

Sampit is regarded as the major industrial and commercial hub
of Central Kalimantan.

The motive for the attack remains unclear but it is suspected
to have been motivated by interethnic rivalry which has already
hit several parts of Kalimantan before.

While there is no confirmation, the latest riot is believed to
involve Maduranese settlers and the local Dayak ethnic group.

Kalimantan is home to a large contingent of Maduranese
migrants.

Various sharp weapons and traditional mandau swords were found
on the scene in Pelalangan.

In 1997 widespread riots gripped Sambas regency in West
Kalimantan leaving hundreds dead.

In October last year, a curfew had to be imposed in the West
Kalimantan provincial capital of Pontianak as three days of
bloody riots wrought havoc in the city.

In their cleanup operations security forces recovered 11
bodies from the Pontianak riot.

In mid-December an intercommunity clash erupted in Kereng
Pangi, some 116 kilometers from Sampit, leaving one dead. This
was followed several days later by two bomb explosions in Sampit
which killed two people.

Deputy Regent of East Kotawaringin Thamrin Noor on Sunday
afternoon said that Sampit was still tense, but efforts to calm
the situation were underway.

Security forces from both the police and military were on high
alert and have blockaded strategic points including gateways into
the city in a bid to prevent a spread of the violence.

Central Kalimantan Deputy Governor Nahson Taway, provincial
police chief Brig. Gen. Bambang Pranoto and local military
commanders in from Palangka Raya to Sampit at about 9 a.m.

Further troop and police reinforcements have also been sent
from Palangka Raya.

A wave of refugees were also beginning an exodus outside the
town. Most were heading in the direction of Palangka Raya. (mds)