Fresh riot rocks West Kalimantan

JAKARTA (JP): A group of about 40 unidentified men went on a burning rampage in the West Kalimantan district of Siantan Tengah yesterday, damaging a foundation that runs Catholic schools, a press report said.

Suara Pembaruan reported the riot began at around 3:40 a.m. when the men attacked the office of Karya Sosial Pancur Kasih Foundation, burning a truck and two motorcycles within the compound.

The rioters smashed window panes and threw molotov cocktails at the motorcycles and trucks. They vandalized the office's electrical installation and cooperative unit while retreating.

The report said the men wearing masks broke into a boarding house near the foundation, slashing two women with sickles and sending terrified occupants to the attic.

The attack forced the foundation's officials to close for a day the St. Fransiskus Asisi junior and senior high schools, which have 773 students, for security reasons.

The violence occurred while the province is still nursing the wounds inflicted in an ethnically motivated clash on Dec. 30 between Madura immigrants and Dayak natives in Sanggau Ledo. Five people were killed and 21 others went missing then.

Military authorities in West Kalimantan were not available for comment yesterday.

Suara Pembaruan did not say if any arrests had been made. Pontianak Mayor RA Siregar said he regretted the attack and asked journalists not to "exaggerate" it.

Security officers were seen guarding the school in anticipation of further unrest. (01)