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)