Police clash with Dayak protesters, one killed

SAMPIT, Central Kalimantan (JP): The East Kotawaringin regency capital of Sampit turned into a battlefield again on Monday afternoon as police clashed with hundreds of Dayak protesters who demanded total withdrawal of Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) troops from the area.

A teacher, identified as Fandy was killed in the incident from a gunshot wound to the head, and another resident, identified as Johan, survived serious gunshot wounds.

Witnesses said the victims were passersby who were hit by stray bullets from the police aimed at the protesters.

The Monday protest was staged at around 11 a.m. outside the Sampit sports stadium on Jl. D.I. Panjaitan, which has been used by Brimob personnel as their temporary headquarters.

The some 300 protesters then marched to the local legislative council building and later to the office of the Sampit Regent.

Dissatisfied with the response of officials at both places, the protesters then moved to the East Kotawaringin Police headquarters.

At the police headquarters, they reported the torture and violence allegedly committed by police personnel against local Dayaks, especially after the incident on Friday when three Brimob officers were killed.

Tension rose as the protesters refused to listen to the officers who were trying to negotiate their demands. They even threatened to pursue any Brimob officers and behead them if they left their headquarters.

The angry protesters then marched back to the sports stadium and yelled at the Brimob personnel.

In an attempt to disperse the mass and to prevent them from approaching the headquarters, the police opened fire. Some witnesses, however, said the shots were fired not only in the air but also at the protesters.

In Sampit, there are a total of 100 personnel of the elite police force. They were deployed from the force's Kelapa Dua and Kedunghalang headquarters, in Jakarta and Bogor, respectively.

Sources said that Dayaks planned to stage a retaliatory attack later that night.

Many feared that if they proceed with the attack, bloodshed would be unavoidable.

Sampit has suffered an onslaught of violent attacks on Madurese migrants by the Dayaks. More than 300 people were killed in the outbreak of violence which erupted late February. Meanwhile, thousands of others have been forced to leave the town. (32/emf)