'Riot won't affect migration'

'Riot won't affect migration'

JAKARTA (JP): The ethnic conflict in West Kalimantan has
nothing to do with the state-sponsored transmigration program, a
minister said yesterday.

Minister of Transmigration Siswono Yudohusodo said the
conflict between indigenous Dayaks and migrants from Madura would
not affect the resettlement program in any way.

He argued that the conflict, believed to have claimed hundreds
of lives, involved mostly people from outside transmigration
sites.

A resettlement unit in West Kalimantan and elsewhere always
consists of people from several provinces, including indigenous
people.

"All units are occupied by resettlers from Madura, Java, Bali
and Flores and Dayaks. They live side by side and protect each
other," he said.

He promised the government would rebuild the hundreds of
transmigrants' houses destroyed in the unrest. (imn)