Two people arrested for Pontianak clashes

Two people arrested for Pontianak clashes

JAKARTA (JP): Police said on Tuesday that two people had been
identified as instigators of the communal violence in the West
Kalimantan capital of Pontianak last week.

West Kalimantan Police chief Brig. Gen. Atok Rismanto was
quoted by Antara in Pontianak as saying that the two were among
19 people arrested in connection with the violence.

"These two were allegedly instigating the riots, but we are
still continuing the investigation to establish the motive behind
their actions," Atok said.

He said the other 17 were arrested for carrying sharp weapons.

Atok added that the search for weapons was still continuing in
Pontianak and that so far 39 sharp weapons, 40 petrol bombs and
three homemade rifles had been confiscated.

The violence which erupted last Wednesday was triggered by a
dispute involving a Madurese migrant bus driver and a Malay
motorcycle driver near Kapuas river.

Tensions in Pontianak were dissipating last Saturday after at
least eight people died in an outbreak of communal unrest.

An extra 600 members of the police Mobile Brigade arrived last
Friday and they were quickly deployed to riot-prone areas in
Pontianak to restore order.

Despite the increased security, thousands of terrified
Madurese were still sheltering in police stations and government
buildings, local reports said.

Gruesome clashes pitting Malays against the Madurese settlers
have flared periodically in the region. Hundreds of people,
mostly Madurese, were killed in 1999. Dozens also died in attacks
in 1997. (byg)