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)