Pontianak antilooting task forces dissolved

Pontianak antilooting task forces dissolved

JAKARTA (JP): The leaders of Madurese and Dayak ethnic groups
in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, agreed on Friday to dissolve their
respective antilooting task forces just a few days after their
establishment because their presence had frightened people and
worsened the situation in the city recently hit by looting and
vandalism.

Pontianak military commander Col. Erwin Sudjono said the two
teams had abandoned their main mission, which was to bring peace
and order to the city, because they were involved in violent
clashes themselves.

"Starting from this second, the antilooting teams are
dissolved," Erwin said, as quoted by Antara.

Massive plundering of rice and other basic commodities and
vandalism occurred in Pontianak and nearby towns despite the
military's threats.

With Erwin's personal approval, hundreds of indigenous Dayak
people set up their task force on Monday. Armed with their mandau
swords they toured the city and threatened to punish any looters
in their own way, saying looters had made people suffer.

One day later their traditional rivals, the migrants from the
East Java island of Madura, marched through the city and
frightened people with their clurit sickles.

The two groups nearly clashed on Thursday when they
accidentally met at Kapuas Besar market where hundreds of
housewives had gathered to buy cheap rice from a big warehouse
owned by a man called Chandra.

Chandra called the Dayak group because he could no longer
control the buyers. The self-appointed law enforcers then forced
people to disperse, arguing that only disciplined buyers were
entitled to rice.

The Madurese group could not accept the harsh treatment since
many of the buyers were Madurese women.

"Many people had to jump into nearby river to avoid the
chaos," said a military officer.

The two ethnic groups have often been involved in violent
clashes. In January last year, at least four people were killed
and 21 remain missing following brawls in Sanggau Ledo.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Pinrang residents in Parepare, South
Sulawesi, have fled to nearby towns after strong rumors spread
that a fresh riot would occur in the rice-rich regency.

Buana Sawito Jaya, a credit cooperative, is scheduled to repay
its members' money on Monday and police have predicted that
hundreds of its members will run amok if it fails to fulfill its
obligations.

The cooperative succeeded to woo depositors as it promised
high interest and profit-sharing.

"We hope nothing will happen on Monday," Parepare regent
Syamsul Alam Bulu said Friday.

In the Central Java town of Banyumas it was reported that 200
people looting teakwood in the Jati Mentasan forest clashed on
Thursday night with security forces. Two security men, Warno and
Widi, were seriously injured after looters beat them up.

The looters also took a forestry official hostage because he
failed to meet their demand to arrange another meeting with
another official hated by the villagers. They then stoned and
damaged the second official's house.

Haryono Kusuma, the official in charge of forestry area in
West Banyumas, confirmed the looting and said it was the worst
such case so far. "This is a serious crime, looting plus assault
and taking a person hostage," he said. (prb/45)