W. Kalimantan conflict suspects seek legal aid

W. Kalimantan conflict suspects seek legal aid

JAKARTA (JP): Suspects in the recent unrest in West Kalimantan
sought legal aid over the weekend at the Pontianak-chapter of the
Indonesian Bars Association (Ikadin), a lawyer said.

Akil Muchtar said the association received a formal request
Saturday from ten suspects from each of the two disputing ethnic
groups; Madurese and Dayaks.

"Basically they want the association to provide them with
legal council during their questioning by the police here," Akil
told The Jakarta Post from Pontianak, the capital of the West
Kalimantan province ravaged by ethnic clashes that have killed a
large number of residents.

Accounts of casualties have varied, ranging from "around three
hundred", which the military has confirmed, to two thousand as
some observers have estimated.

Akil said the ten suspects are now being detained at both the
Pontianak police precinct and subprecinct, waiting for charges
that could range from murder to possession of sharp weapons.

The number of suspects seeking the association's legal aid
would likely increase as there were still dozens of people
detained in connection with the unrest, Akil said.

He did not mention how many people had been detained by the
police following unrest that rocked the province since late
December. Tanjungpura regional military chief Maj. Gen. Namoeri
Anum told the press recently that 68 people had been detained for
rioting.

Akil said the association would consider setting up a team of
lawyers comprising both lawyers of Madurese and Dayak descents at
a meeting today.

"We need to consider carefully the security aspect of lawyers
involved in the team by including lawyers of both ethnic
descents," he said.

Akil said judging from the low education of most people of the
two ethnic groups, lawyers could easily be accused of taking
sides in the case. (aan)