Eight die in latest clashes in Sampit
Eight die in latest clashes in Sampit
JAKARTA (JP): A new bout of ethnic violence erupted on
Wednesday in East Kotawaringin regency, Central Kalimantan, with
reports that another eight people have been killed.
Latest reports coming out of the small town of Sampit, about
214 kilometers west of the provincial capital Palangka Raya, bely
police reports that the situation had calmed and was under
control since the violence initially exploded on Sunday between
migrant Madurese settlers and the local Dayak tribe.
Antara reported that following bloody clashes bodies were seen
lying on the streets of the town.
The exact number of dead remains unclear, with the latest
count being at least eight. Their identities remain unknown.
At least 25 are believed to have been killed since Sunday.
The resumption of violence seems to have been sparked by a
clash in Kuala Kuayam, some 170 kilometers from Sampit, late on
Tuesday night.
About 30 houses were burned down during the night raid in
Kuala Kuayam, however there were no reports of casualties as most
of the residents in the area had already fled.
The town of Kuala Pembuang in Seruyan Hilir district, some 200
kilometers south of Sampit, also nearly fell prey to mob violence
as residents became agitated by the sudden influx of refugees
from Sampit.
However community and religious leaders quickly stepped in to
calm the situation before an outbreak could erupt.
Kalimantan has seen several recurrences of ethnic violence in
the past few years.
The most destructive was in 1997 when widespread riots hit
Sambas regency in West Kalimantan leaving hundreds dead.
In December an intercommunal clash erupted in Kereng Pangi,
some 116 kilometers from Sampit, leaving one dead.
Police in Jakarta on Tuesday claimed that they had captured
one of the two "masterminds" of Sunday's Sampit riot whom they
identified as local officials. Police said their motive was to
regain their former jobs by inciting an ethnic riot.
On Wednesday additional police reinforcements arrived.
Two companies of the Police Mobile Brigade arrived from
Jakarta. One was immediately deployed to Sampit while the other
was stationed in Palangka Raya.
Earlier another company from South Kalimantan had already been
deployed to Sampit.
Threat
In Palangka Raya the situation was also tense as thousands of
Dayaks surrounded the police station to demand the release of 39
people who had been under police custody since Sunday's riot.
Police eventually yielded to their demands and released the 39
after reaching an "agreement" with local leaders who called
themselves the Central Kalimantan Region and Dayak Community
Consultation League.
Many of those who marched from the local council building to
the police station in Palangka Raya were believed to be Dayaks
who had left Sampit.
Central Kalimantan deputy chief Snr. Comms. M. Djatmiko
maintained however that the 39 were actually not detained or even
arrested but were being kept by police for their own safety.
"You should know that we struggled hard to free these 39
people who at the time were helpless and surrounded by an
opposing ethnic group," Djatmiko claimed.
"So we didn't detain them, we secured (their safety)."
The head of the league's presidium, M. Usop, urged police to
"wisely" resolve the conflict by approaching both ethnic groups.
However in a rather veiled threat he suggested that other
ethnic migrant groups in Central Kalimantan should heed local
traditions or leave.
"Generally speaking the Dayak community in Central Kalimantan
are open to anyone from whichever ethnic group. However if the
migrants cannot adjust to local values...then it is better that
they voluntarily leave," Usop said as quoted by Antara. (jun/hdn)