Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The situation in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, is under control and secure following the
riot that left two people killed, a police spokesman said.

"For now, we can say , the situation there is safe and under control again," head of the national police`s public relations division, Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam said here on Thursday.

Some 100 residents ran amok during a demonstration on Monday (Aug 22) in protest against the failure of an oil consortium to keep its promise to develop public facilities and electricity networks for the locals.

They vandalized the office building and facilities of the company, a consortium between state-owned oil/gas firm Pertamina and PT Medco E&P Tomori.

Anton said, "There is already a bright prospect in our efforts to resolve the problem through talks with the local community."

The results of the talks had calmed down the locals and they had surrendered their firearms, Anton said.

The Indonesian navy had sent its warships KRI Pulau Ende and KRI Hiu to help secure the waters of Tiaka Island in Morowali district, Central Sulawesi, following the unrest on Monday, in which two locals were killed.

The Tiaka oil field operators in Morowali district, Central Sulawesi, Pertamina-Medco E&P Tomori decided to continue the oil wells operation in the ex-riot area where two people were found dead and six others suffered injuries.

"We also conducted reforms, and on the other hand the Medco is also expected to understand about the local community needs," Anton pointed out.

In the meantime, the Central Sulawesi police commander Brig.Gen. Dewa Parsana said his office would evaluate the shooting incident by his staff member on Tiaka Island. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011