One person shot dead in West Kalimantan rioting
One person shot dead in West Kalimantan rioting
JAKARTA (JP): The military in West Kalimantan has admitted
that troops shot dead one person taking part in Sunday's massive
protest over the alleged kidnapping of a Dayak man by a member of
the Armed Forces (ABRI).
Chief of the local military command Maj. Gen. Namoeri Anom
said that four people were injured in the incident in Ngabang
subdistrict, Antara reported yesterday.
Namoeri said troops opened fire in self-defense after
protesters numbering over 2,000 ran amok. "Many of them were
drunk," he said.
The crowd attacked the Ngabang military headquarters, torching
offices and deflating car tires, according to the general.
He assured the public that the ABRI members who allegedly
kidnapped and tortured Jinning have been detained, and that the
shooting incident would be investigated.
Namoeri did not give Jinning's fate or his whereabouts.
Protesters said Jinning was kidnapped and possibly killed by a
group of 10 soldiers after he was involved in a minor road
accident with an officer last week.
Namoeri said the shooting incident was a "disaster". "But the
law must be upheld. Those found guilty will be punished."
The local Dayak tribes people have long criticized soldiers
posted in the area of being "unfriendly" to local residents.
Namoeri rejected their demand that the local military
headquarters be moved. "All possible contingencies were carefully
considered before it was set up. In the near future we will
deploy another unit in the area," he said.
The incident in West Kalimantan is only one of three shooting
incidents involving ABRI members over the past week. In Java and
Sumatra two people were reportedly shot and killed in separate
incidents.
In the West Java town of Serang, a police officer
"unintentionally" pulled the trigger trying to break up rioting
soccer fans, killing one over the weekend.
The local military commandant, Col. H.R. Ampi Nurkamal
Tanudjiwa promised he would investigate the incident after
hundreds of residents marched to his headquarters to protest the
incident.
Earlier, a group of ABRI members shot up a fishing boat near
the Natuna island, Riau, for unknown reasons. One fisherman from
Purwokerto, Central Java, was killed.
Purwokerto military chief Col. Lintang Waluyo said yesterday
the incident was "disgraceful" and that several ABRI members
suspected of involvement in the shooting have been detained.
The Natuna incident angered Purwokerto fishermen. Earlier this
week, they refused to go to sea in protest against the shooting.
(pan)