Tension rises in Tanjungpinang

TANJUNGPINANG, Riau: A mysterious shooting has cast a pall over the run-up to next week's inauguration of the acting governor of the Riau Islands province, Muchtar Silin.

East Riau Islands Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Johannes Kwartanto confirmed on Monday that an unidentified person or persons opened fire on the house of local community leader Rahman ATT, who is a staunch supporter of Tanjungpinang island being made a separate province.

The shooting took place at about midnight on Saturday, but no casualties or damage was reported. Apparently, all of the bullets fired from the AK-47 either went over the house or slammed into the ground in front of the house.

Twenty-four hours after the shooting, a fire broke out in a traditional market, destroying three kiosks. But Johannes refused to link the blaze and the shooting.

Another local leader, Andy, told Antara the two incidents were intentional, and were meant to derail the inauguration of the governor on May 15.

People on Tanjungpinang and three other Riau islands -- Bintan, Batam and Natuna -- have long demanded a separate province, despite opposition from both the central government and the Riau provincial administration.

Proponents of a separate province have set a May 15 deadline for the House of Representatives to approve the establishment of the new province. -- Antara