Curfew Imposed in Troubled Central Kalimantan, IndonesiaAs tension was still high, the Indonesian police on Thursday imposed a curfew in Sampit city, Central Kalimantan province, a report reaching here said Friday.Another report said the death toll in the ethnic clash involving Madurese migrants (from East Java province) and indigenous Dayak tribesmen in the city rose to 143 as of Friday afternoon, as more bodies were found. As part of efforts to calm down situation in the city, Chief of the National Police Surojo Bimantoro imposed a curfew, effective from 22:00 p.m. to 06:00 a.m., the Detikcom online news service reported. It quoted Bimantoro as saying that security personnel have been launching a sweeping operation to seize weapons and pledged to take stern measures against those found of possessing sharp weapons. He said two extra battalions from the police and the Army have been deployed in the conflict area, adding that police have arrested 80 rioters. He also said two persons suspected to be masterminds have been arrested in Pangkalan Bun and in Sintang city, giving no details on their identities. Earlier he attributed two locals government officials from the local ministry of forestry office as the masterminds of the riots. |
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