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)