Madurese, Dayak leaders agree to bury hatchet

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of people attended a ceremony in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak, Saturday, in which leaders of Madurese migrants and indigenous Dayaks vowed to bury the hatchet.

Government officials hope the rite they sponsored at the local military headquarters would end the weeks of bloody ethnic clashes that have claimed hundreds of lives.

Witnessing the peace pledges were Tanjungpura regional military chief, Maj. Gen. Namuri Anoem, Governor Aswar Aspin and chairman of the Jakarta-based National Commission on Human Rights, Munawir Sjadzali.

Migrants from Madura and Dayaks have fought a series of major ethnic wars. In 1979, fighting broke out in Sambas district, in 1983 it was in Pontianak and the latest in December 1996 and January this year were in Sanggau Ledo and other districts.

In the latest conflict, an estimated 300 people were killed, 21 people went missing and over 900 houses were burned down.

Sporadic fighting reportedly continued in February but military officials say it has ended.

In Saturday's ceremony, community leaders from the two ethnic groups said the conflicts were because of the government's failure to cherish peaceful co-existence between ethnic groups in West Kalimantan.

"People are easily provoked by rumors," Antara quoted their joint statement as saying.

The community leaders agreed to co-exist peacefully, not to take the law into their own hands and to settle any disputes as quickly as possible.

They also agreed to develop religious harmony.

Dayaks are mainly Christian and the migrant Madurese are Moslem.

When the conflict was still raging, religious leaders on both sides issued a joint statement saying the conflict was not religiously motivated.

Before the Dayak and Maduranese leaders signed the accord, Namuri asked those present if they had objections to it.

"After this, I don't want to see any one of you start trouble," he said.

None of them raised any objections.

Also signing the peace accord were the local military chief, the governor and the human rights commission chief.

Munawir said the peace agreement should strengthen the locals' commitment to safeguard national unity.

The National Commission on Human Rights played a mediatory role in the conflict.

Governor Aswar called on the Dayaks and Maduranese to settle any dispute amicably so bloody conflicts would never happen again.

"No one may take the law into their own hands," the governor said. (pan)