Indonesia's police chief said yesterday a wave of ethnic savagery in Borneo which has killed hundreds was calming down and there appeared to be no need to declare a civil emergency.
"According to my judgment the situation is improving," General Bimantoro said after briefing Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
"But the curfew is still on and a civil emergency depends on the security situation. If it is worse it might be declared but based on the conditions now, there seems to be no need." Police started shooting rioters on Tuesday in a bid to halt the violence.
Chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said earlier the government would decide today whether to impose a civil emergency in Central Kalimantan, where indigenous Dayaks have slaughtered Madurese immigrants in 10 days of ethnic savagery.
Civil emergency is one step down from martial law.
Yudhoyono said Megawati would visit the province today.
Police spokesman Inspector-General Didi Widayadi said five rioters were shot Tuesday in the town of Sampit and the provincial capital Palangkaraya. One was killed.
"Police shot five people who were involved in disorder yesterday. Three in Sampit and two in Palangkaraya. One of them died," he said.
Widayadi threatened to prosecute any personnel who failed to take tough action to stem the tide of violence. He did not say if those shot were Dayaks, the descendants of feared headhunters who have often beheaded their Madurese victims and ripped out their hearts.
Criticism of President Abdurrahman Wahid also mounted yesterday, with politicians and respected religious figures slamming the Muslim cleric for refusing to cut short a two-week overseas trip to deal with the Borneo bloodshed.
"I don't understand how the president could enjoy a cup of tea overseas while his people in Central Kalimantan are killing one another," the Jakarta Post quoted Amien Rais, speaker of the top legislative assembly, as saying.
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