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)