JP/2/DAYAK

JP/2/DAYAK

Follow-up actions to Dayak-Madura reconciliation urged

PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan (JP): Several local tribal
leaders have called on all levels of the government to promptly
follow up results of the newly concluded Dayak people's congress,
which recommended the settlement of interethnic conflicts that
occurred months earlier.

The four-day Central Kalimantan People's Congress (KRK) ended
on Thursday night with the unsurprising outcome of allowing
Madurese migrants who were born in Kalimantan or who have family
ties there to resettle in the province after they formally
apologize for not respecting the local culture.

The Dayak figures made their appeal in a news conference in
the provincial capital on Friday, attended by former Central
Kalimantan governors R. Silvanus and W.A. Gara, former deputy
governor Victor Paing and local veteran independence fighter W.
Narang.

"The congress has approved a very favorable agreement,
particularly for Madurese migrants who can now return to Central
Kalimantan under certain conditions, and all levels of the
regional administration should immediately take further action to
support the agreement," urged Silvanus.

Victor asserted the importance of promoting the results of the
congress to prevent a recurrence of the conflict, which left
hundreds dead.

According to Gara, however, the conditions for a Madurese
wishing to return to the province as defined by the KRK will not
just end there. "The resolution needs to be disseminated to all
Dayaks across the country and even the world, which has so far
condemned the Dayak culture," he asserted.

Steering committee chairman H. Usof meanwhile told reporters
that the congress decision had yet to be formulated into a draft
regional regulation, pending its debate by the regional
legislature. It would also be circulated to four previously
clash-stricken towns.

Despite the Dayak's acceptance of Madurese returning to the
province, the process of resettlement "should take heed of the
preparedness of local inhabitants and all technical matters will
be left to the relevant regencies", Usof added.

The congress also decided to declare Feb. 21 Central
Kalimantan Community Awakening Day, to mark the recapturing of
Sampit from "two days of Madurese control" by the Dayaks in this
port town and compatriots in mountainous areas. (32)