Peace talks underway in W. Kalimantan
JAKARTA (JP): Negotiations for peace between two conflicting ethnic groups in West Kalimantan are underway, but observers are divided on the possibility of successful dialog.
Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Amir Syarifuddin said yesterday that representatives of the native Dayaks and Madurese migrants in West Kalimantan had reached an agreement to end enmity under the mediation of secretary-general of the National Commission on Human Rights Baharuddin Lopa.
"The two sides, in principle, have agreed to end the fighting and will launch no more attacks against one another in the future," he told The Jakarta Post.
He added that the signing of the reconciliation would be held as soon as possible after both parties, along with the provincial authorities, completed the peace pact.
"We are now waiting for the results of the deliberations (conducted by leaders of the conflicting ethnic groups). It's not clear yet whether a governor, a minister or other government officials should witness the signing," said Amir.
Spokesman of the West Kalimantan provincial authorities Ya' Ibrahim told the Post that peacemaking efforts were underway at the regency and provincial capital levels on request of Tanjungpura Military Commander Maj. Gen. Namoeri Anoem.
Out of the seven regencies hit by unrest, peacemaking efforts began in Ketapang and Pontianak regencies Wednesday and Thursday respectively, Ibrahim said.
Short-term solutions would include the establishment of community security networks, rehabilitation of property and physical damages, he said.
He did not elaborate on long-term solutions but said that peacemaking efforts with the community require comprehensive commitment by local and military officials.
Amir said the Armed Forces has not yet planned a withdrawal of 3,000 troops deployed to maintain order, although the situation returned to normal last week. A curfew in the provincial capital Pontianak, enforced since Feb. 1, was lifted last Thursday.
Security officials said 13 people were killed and 21 people are missing since the violent clashes broke out in Sanggau Ledo on Dec. 29 last year. Thousands were also forced to seek refuge.
The police have arrested 68 people following the unrest, 13 of them will stand trial on charges of inciting the riots. The police have also confiscated long rifles.
Doubt
But skepticism of the peacemaking efforts remain, a source said.
"A fresh riot and a miraculous peaceful agreement stand equal chance. Anything can happen and it will happen beyond our control," he said.
The source said that acrimonious debates have marked the peacemaking efforts within each of the ethnic groups. He said the Dayaks insisted on eviction of the Madurese as the basis of reconciliation. He admitted he has no access to monitor debates within Madurese.
"There will be no compromise reached among them because they are old nemesis," he said.
Tanjungpura military commander Maj. Gen. Namoeri said the ethnic clashes recently was the fifth since August 1977. Altogether the conflicts have claimed at least 50 lives.
The source also confirmed that many Madurese are being hunted by Dayak tribes in the jungles, and this situation might have led to a large number of casualties, which some say has reached "hundreds".
The Armed Forces has denied a Jakarta-based daily's report that about 2,000 people have been killed, but rumors continue to circulate that the number of fatalities was indeed very great.
A West Kalimantan councilor Zainal said on Saturday that a peace pact was an important initial step to end the deep-seated ethnic conflict in the province.
Zainal said business and daily activities had been back to normal in the past three days in various districts around the province, with the reopening of restaurants and shops and the distribution of food for local residents.
He declined to provide the number of casualties, but estimated the damage to property in the Sambas regency alone could reach Rp 15 billion (US$6.2 million). (01/rms/amd)