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Situation in Indonesia's Central Kalimantan Improves
The situation in Palangkaraya and Sampit, Indonesia's Central Kalimantan province, on Tuesday had been better than that on Monday, according to Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"The general situation has improved, despite some conflict spots and sporadic small-scale violence, and one camp seeking to strike another," the minister said at the parliament building before attending a meeting with the House of Representatives' Special Committee on National Integrity/Harmony.
The conflict broke out in Sampit on February 18 involving Madurese migrants and indigenous Dayak tribesmen, but now the bloodshed has spread to the provincial capital of Palangkaraya. Some reports said the violence has already killed up to 400 people.
Commenting on the suggestion to impose a civil emergency status over Palangkaraya and Sampit, Yudhoyono pointed out that he had never said that such a move would be impossible.
"The governor, the provincial police chief and the local military commander know best. If they suggest the imposition of a civil emergency status, we are going to give our endorsement," he said.
However, Yudhoyono made it clear that, until now, the provincial leaders had not suggested a civil emergency status for Central Kalimantan.
In Bandung, capital of West Java province, head of the National Police General S. Bimantoro said in order to reinforce the security operation in the Central Kalimantan, a battalion in South Sulawesi province would be sent to Palangkaraya, to be placed under the command of the Central Kalimantan police.
Earlier, a battalion from Purwodadi in Central Java had been deployed to help restore peace and order in Palangkaraya and Sampit.
Meanwhile, 174 rioters have been arrested. Besides, the police have also seized hundreds of locally-assembled firearms from a hotel in Palangkaraya.
"To prevent further brutality, the security personnel have been instructed to shoot rioters on site," Bimantoro was quoted by the Antara News Agency as saying.
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