"The clash started from a gasoline lineup, followed by violence and law enforcement actions. Two suspects in the incident have been caught," National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo said situation in Kutai Barat, Kalimantan, has returned to normal while the cause of the conflict was purely criminal and suspects involved had been caught.

"The clash started from a gasoline lineup, followed by violence and law enforcement actions. Two suspects in the incident have been caught," he said after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a lunch held in honor of visiting Norway Prince Hakoon Magnus at the State Palace here on Monday.

He said the situation there had now been conducive while public activities had resumed and shops had been opened.

The police chief said the clash was a violation of the law and the police was processing the case.

To prevent recurrence he said the police had deployed two battalions of Mobile Brigade helped by TNI (military) personnel.

"With regard to fuel problems we have been coordinating with the ministry of energy and state-owned oil company Pertamina. I think measures have been taken to increase supply. Security forces meanwhile are still standing by in Kutai to prevent the incident from recurring," he said.

Houses and traditional market places in in the district have been destroyed following a dispute between a resident and a fuel oil distributor in Barong Tongkok November 23.

A villager wanted to buy gasoline and the distributor said that he ran out of supply. The villager however could not accept his reply because he had seen other resident being served causing a dispute that led to the beating of the villager.

The villager later reported the incident to his family members who later along with 500 other people of certain ethnic group came to the distribution station to find the person that had beaten the villager.

As they did not find him they then destroyed the station and houses belonging to members of a migrant ethnic group.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012