PROBLEM BEHIND DETENTION CENTRE RIOT MUST BE REVEALED

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, May 10 (Antara) - The riot between security forces and terror inmates at the detention center of the National Police's Mobile Brigade Headquarters (Mako Bromob) in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, on Tuesday night is a grave concern.          It is an incident which is gravely saddening, especially for the police force, as five of its members were killed. Therefore, the police need to find the reason behind the tragedy.          According to reports, the riot broke out when several terror convicts, occupying a number of detention blocks, quarreled with police officers over food.         Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Law Practitioners (Alpha), Azmi Syahputra, assessed that the riot was not merely a matter related to food, and there was a bigger problem that needs to be revealed.         "The matter related to food that caused the quarrel is merely a trigger. There must be a bigger problem behind the incident. Police must investigate it comprehensively to find the main problem," Syahputra, who is also a lecturer of Criminal Law of Bung Karno University (UBK), told Antara in Jakarta on Thursday.         He mentioned that the actions of the prisoners were a form of deliberate move, and they must have previously made preparations to do something, considering the right circumstances and time.

BIMA CLASH NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED INDEPENDENTLY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 26 (ANTARA) - While an investigation into  bloody clashes between security forces and local people  that claimed the lives of nine people in Mesuji, Lampung province, was still in progress, another incident involving police and residents happened  in Bima district, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Saturday, leaving to  two locals dead.         Many quarters, including chairman of the Muhammadiyah Islamic organization Din Syamsuddin, legislators, mining officials  and a  legal aid institute (LBH), urged the government to investigate the Bima incident thoroughly in order to uphold the law.          "Law enforcers must find the parties responsible for the incident because the violence constituted  human rights violations ," Din Syamsuddin said after inaugurating a mosque in Jepara, Central Java, on Sunday.          Din said he was sad about the incident because it had claimed the lives of people. Moreover, the dead victims included a member of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second largest Muslim organization which claims to have about 25 million members.          He said the clash between police and demonstrators began with the rejection by residents of the presence of a mining firm in their area. Law enforcers should settle the problem of people's aspirations  through dialogs or through  a discussion forum, he said.          "I hope clashes  like those in Bima will not also happen  in other regions," Din said.           The same hope was aired by a top Democratic Party legislator  who said the incident should become an important lesson in enforcing the law. "I have instructed  Democratic Party faction members in the House of Representatives hailing from NTB to visit the location where the clash happened and make consolidation and coordination with the local government," chairman of the Democratic Party faction  in the House of Representatives (DPR), Mohammad Jafar Hafsah, said.          Mohammad Jafar Hafsah said that as chief of the Democratic party faction in the House, he had consolidated especially with members of the House commission VII from the Democratic Party overseeing mines and energy affairs in an effort to get a comprehensive report on the Bima clash.          Chief of NTB's Energy and Mineral Resources Office Eko Bambang Sutedjo said meanwhile that residents' demand for the revocation of the mining license (IUP) issued by Bima district Head  Ferry Zulkarnaen should be settled through  legal channels.          The local people's demand for the revocation of the IUP could be settled through a legal process, namely a review by the State Administrative Court (PTUN).          "Any opposition to a government policy should be settled through  legal channels, not through street protests which always  tend to become  anarchic," Eko said.          A clash between police and demonstrators broke out at Sape Ferry port in Bima district, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), on Saturday claiming two lives. It happened when security officers tried to forcefully drive away a group of local residents who had occupied the ferry port since December 20, 2011.          The residents who called themselves  members of an anti-mining front, had occupied the port and demanded that the Bima district head retract his  decision to allow mining firm PT Sumber Mineral Nusantara to operate in the district on the ground the company's operations had damaged the environment.          During the clash,  police confiscated 20 machetes, four crescent blades, 10 spears, some large and small stones and Molotov cocktails as evidence. Apart from that, the police also seized  gasoline in "aqua" bottles, a black bag, a Carry Pick-Up car, a motorcycle, a megaphone and other public speaking equipment.          The local police chief said after the demonstrators had left the scene, an angry mob had also torched the Lambu police precinct and  several other government office buildings.           They vandalized the office of the Lambu police precinct and set fire to his official residence, four  police dormitories, and a Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) building.          In addition, they also vandalized a forestry office, a youth and sports office and 25 houses.         Until Sunday, police had named 47 people suspect over the clash in which, according to police,  two people were killed, but another source said there were three fatalities.          "The Bima police resort has so far questioned 47 suspects. They are members of the Anti-Mining People's Front who were involved in blockading actions and arson," spokesman of the National Police Insp. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution said on Sunday.          He said police investigators would interrogate each of the suspects for their alleged part in the violent acts which  included the occupation of  the Sape ferry port, vandalizing and setting fire to public facilities.          "All the suspects will be interrogated about their involvement in the incident," he said.          Yet, a legal aid institute urged the government to set up an independent investigation team because the clash involved security officers and demonstrators.         LBH Keadilan (Legal Aid for Justice Institute) called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to set up an independent team to soon investigate the Bima case in  which three people were killed.          LBH Keadilan in a press statement made available to ANTAR on Sunday said the independent team should be composed of civilians and academics. Without an independent team, it was feared the law would not  enforced fairly.          The bloody Bima clash which has added to the  number of violent police-people confrontations  happening in the country, is a serious case that has to be solved with the partcipation of  independent investigators, it said.          In order to prevent the occurrence of the same conflict in other areas, LBH Keadilan called on the president to form a special team to settle  conflicts over natural resources and agrarian issues. Without a special team, natural resource related conflicts would continue to take place, it said.          (T.A014/B/HAJM/14:50/f001) 26-12-2011 15:00:

RIOT ON TIAKA ISLAND CLAIMS ONE LIFE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 22 (ANTARA) - Police shot dead a rioter, injured three and arrested 19 others when an angry mob vandalized the office building, facilities and oil well of an oil consortium on Tiaka Island, Mamosalato, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Monday.          The rioting was triggered by the failure of the oil company, a consortium between state-owned oil/gas firm Pertamina and PT Medco E&P Tomori to build public facilities and electricity networks for the locals based on its promise years ago.          "The company has promised locals in the past to build public facilities and electricity networks but it has not yet realized it until now," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana said.          Because the promise was not kept, the local people gathered and vented their discontent by visiting Tiaka Island, one of the company's assets. They were disappointed after they failed to meet  the management of the company.          "They wanted  to negotiate with the boss of the firm but they failed because the boss was still in Jakarta," Dewa said.           The angry mob then vandalized the office building and facilities of the company and pelted its oil well with Molotov cocktails that caused it to catch fire.  They also took hostage three policemen and a soldier.           The angry mob's indiscriminate action forced the apparatuses in the field to fire  warning shots before aiming their fire at the rioters, he said.           "Thank God, we were able to arrest 19 rioters," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana said on the sidelines of a fast-breaking dinner here on Monday evening.           He said  the 19 rioters were arrested because they acted unlawfully, conducted vandalism and held hostage a number of employees of Pertamina's JOB.           The 19 rioters are now being held at the Morowali police headquarters for further questioning and investigation, he said.           Police planned to take the 19 rioters to the Central Sulawesi Regional Police Headquarters in Palu city for examinations and investigations.          "They are still in Morowali now, but I have ordered my subordinates to take them to Palu so that we can examine and investigate the incident safely and smoothly," the Central Sulawesi police chief said.       In the meantime, Morowali Resort Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Suhirman when contacted through his cellular phone said the angry mob pelted an oil well belonging to the consortium on Tiaka island with Molotov cocktails.          Suhirman only said that the incident began on Sunday but on Monday afternoon all of a sudden hundreds of people from mainland Mamosalato entered the island by motor boats and began vandalizing the joint oil companies' facilities.         "They were armed with machetes, spears, sickles and Molotov cocktails. They then vandalized the company's offices and facilities," he said.          In order to protect residents, police evacuated residents from Tiaka Island following the rioting in which angry mobs  tried to destroy the oil well.          The situation was still tense and Suhirman said he still did not know whether there were casualties in the incident.          "Angry mobs pelted the oil well which has a high H2S content with molotov cocktails. If the oil well explodes it will release dangerous poison. Therefore we decided to evacuate local residents who are all employees of the Pertamina-Medco consortium," Suhirman said.          Tiaka Island is located in Mamosalato subdistrict, Morowali district, Central Sulawesi province.  Suhirman could not provide more details yet because police were still busy evacuating residents. They were evacuated using motor boats with a capacity of about 60 passengers each.          In the meantime, ANTARA correspondent reported from neighboring district of Luwuk that the Luwuk General Hospital was alerted to receive patients who had become victims in the rioting in Tiaka.          "We have received information that one victim died on his way to the hospital but the body will still be taken to Luwuk for an autopsy," a source who refused to be named said.          By 9.30 pm local time, one victim had been admitted to the Luwuk General Hospital. The victim, named Andre M Sondeng (25), was in critical condition and was receiving intensive medical treatment at the hospital, according to the victim's uncle, Rahman.          Andre is a resident of Kolo Bawah village, Mamosalato subdistrict. He arrived at the hospital at 21.30 local time after a trip for 4 hours from Mamosalato, Morowali district.       Journalists were not allowed to approach the victim at the hospital. "Andre was shot on his right chest. The projectile still lodged in his chest," Rahman said.          Rahman said that the demonstration actually began on Sunday. About 100 residents visited to Tiaka Island by two motorboats. They wanted to meet with the Pertamina-Medco E&P Tomiro Joint Operating Body (JOB) but they failed to meet the company?s management on that day.          Therefore, on Monday they came again on two motorboats. They wanted to convey their demand that the firm realize its promise it had made years ago.          "I don't know how clashes came about with police who opened fires at the demonstrators," Rahman said.          Central Sulawesi Police Chief Dewa Parsana said that his side had dispatched 100 personnel from the mobile brigade police to Morowali district to maintain security in Tiaka Island after the riot.          "We have sent 100 Mobile Brigade police from the Luwuk company," Dewa Parsana said.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/01:00/a014)23-08-2011 00:55:4

RIOT ON TIAKA ISLAND CLAIMS ONE LIFE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 22 (ANTARA) - Police shot dead a rioter, injured three and arrested 19 others when an angry mob vandalized the office building, facilities and oil well of an oil consortium on Tiaka Island, Mamosalato, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Monday.          The rioting was triggered by the failure of the oil company, a consortium between state-owned oil/gas firm Pertamina and PT Medco E&P Tomori to build public facilities and electricity networks for the locals based on its promise years ago.          "The company has promised locals in the past to build public facilities and electricity networks but it has not yet realized it until now," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana said.          Because the promise was not kept, the local people gathered and vented their discontent by visiting Tiaka Island, one of the company's assets. They were disappointed after they failed to meet  the management of the company.          "They wanted  to negotiate with the boss of the firm but they failed because the boss was still in Jakarta," Dewa said.           The angry mob then vandalized the office building and facilities of the company and pelted its oil well with Molotov cocktails that caused it to catch fire.  They also took hostage three policemen and a soldier.           The angry mob's indiscriminate action forced the apparatuses in the field to fire  warning shots before aiming their fire at the rioters, he said.           "Thank God, we were able to arrest 19 rioters," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig Gen Dewa Parsana said on the sidelines of a fast-breaking dinner here on Monday evening.           He said  the 19 rioters were arrested because they acted unlawfully, conducted vandalism and held hostage a number of employees of Pertamina's JOB.           The 19 rioters are now being held at the Morowali police headquarters for further questioning and investigation, he said.           Police planned to take the 19 rioters to the Central Sulawesi Regional Police Headquarters in Palu city for examinations and investigations.          "They are still in Morowali now, but I have ordered my subordinates to take them to Palu so that we can examine and investigate the incident safely and smoothly," the Central Sulawesi police chief said.       In the meantime, Morowali Resort Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Suhirman when contacted through his cellular phone said the angry mob pelted an oil well belonging to the consortium on Tiaka island with Molotov cocktails.          Suhirman only said that the incident began on Sunday but on Monday afternoon all of a sudden hundreds of people from mainland Mamosalato entered the island by motor boats and began vandalizing the joint oil companies' facilities.         "They were armed with machetes, spears, sickles and Molotov cocktails. They then vandalized the company's offices and facilities," he said.          In order to protect residents, police evacuated residents from Tiaka Island following the rioting in which angry mobs  tried to destroy the oil well.          The situation was still tense and Suhirman said he still did not know whether there were casualties in the incident.          "Angry mobs pelted the oil well which has a high H2S content with molotov cocktails. If the oil well explodes it will release dangerous poison. Therefore we decided to evacuate local residents who are all employees of the Pertamina-Medco consortium," Suhirman said.          Tiaka Island is located in Mamosalato subdistrict, Morowali district, Central Sulawesi province.  Suhirman could not provide more details yet because police were still busy evacuating residents. They were evacuated using motor boats with a capacity of about 60 passengers each.          In the meantime, ANTARA correspondent reported from neighboring district of Luwuk that the Luwuk General Hospital was alerted to receive patients who had become victims in the rioting in Tiaka.          "We have received information that one victim died on his way to the hospital but the body will still be taken to Luwuk for an autopsy," a source who refused to be named said.          By 9.30 pm local time, one victim had been admitted to the Luwuk General Hospital. The victim, named Andre M Sondeng (25), was in critical condition and was receiving intensive medical treatment at the hospital, according to the victim's uncle, Rahman.          Andre is a resident of Kolo Bawah village, Mamosalato subdistrict. He arrived at the hospital at 21.30 local time after a trip for 4 hours from Mamosalato, Morowali district.       Journalists were not allowed to approach the victim at the hospital. "Andre was shot on his right chest. The projectile still lodged in his chest," Rahman said.          Rahman said that the demonstration actually began on Sunday. About 100 residents visited to Tiaka Island by two motorboats. They wanted to meet with the Pertamina-Medco E&P Tomiro Joint Operating Body (JOB) but they failed to meet the company?s management on that day.          Therefore, on Monday they came again on two motorboats. They wanted to convey their demand that the firm realize its promise it had made years ago.          "I don't know how clashes came about with police who opened fires at the demonstrators," Rahman said.          Central Sulawesi Police Chief Dewa Parsana said that his side had dispatched 100 personnel from the mobile brigade police to Morowali district to maintain security in Tiaka Island after the riot.          "We have sent 100 Mobile Brigade police from the Luwuk company," Dewa Parsana said.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/01:00/a014) 23-08-2011 00:55:4

PEOPLE CONDEMN ATTACK ON CHURCHES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 8 (ANTARA) - Various quarters have condemned Tuesday's attack on houses of worship in the Central Java city of Temanggung where three churches were destroyed and nine people were injured (four seriously) by a group of people who were dissatisfied with the prosecution's sentencing demand for a defendant in a religious blasphemy case.          Condemnations among others came from youths, religious leaders, state officials and the president who asked that the perpetrators should be brought to justice immediately because their anarchic acts could fuel wide spread violence.          "Religious issues are sensitive. The faiths of both the minority and the majority should be respected," Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam said in an short text message to ANTARA.          General chairman of GP Ansor, the youth wing of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Nusron Wahid condemned the attack. "Houses of prayers are scared places for followers of a religion. It is our obligation to protect houses of worship from disturbance, no matter from whom or from where it comes," Nusron Wahid said on Tuesday.          Groups of people took to the street and torched  two churches and vandalized another one in Temanggung on Tuesday because they were dissatisfied with the five-year jail term demanded by prosecutors for Antonius Richmond Bawengan, the defendant in a religious blasphemy case in the local district court.          Antonius has been detained since last October when he was arrested for distributing books and pamphlets containing materials insulting Muslims.          Nusron said  the riot was a barbaric act and intolerable, legally and morally, in a country where religion and morality play a significant role in the people's life. "There is no single religion which tolerates anarchic acts even if they are committed in the name of religion," Nusron said.          He said that the state should not be helpless in protecting its citizens,  let alone if it only faces a group of people who committed anarchic acts on the pretext of implementing a religious order.          "This should serve as a serious correction for the state and its apparatuses. On Sunday followers of the Ahmadiyah were killed but were ignored. Now churches were set ablaze. So, where is the state protection against citizens' civil rights, properties and after all houses of worship?," he questioned.          On Sunday, three followers of the Ahmadiah Islamic sect were killed when they were attacked by thousands of local residents in Pandeglang district, Banten province.          Religious leaders also condemned the attack on houses of prayers in Central Java's Temanggung city.          Priest Rawis MTh of the Betel Indonesia Church in Manado, North Sulawesi urged the government to thoroughly investigate the destruction churches in Central Java because the perpetrators of the incident disturbed religious harmony.          "Anger should not always be aimed at houses of worship because such an act is an  intolerable form of deed," Rawis said.          He said that the Indonesian people should respect the plurality of religions existing in Indonesia.  "Religious plurality is a form of religious diversity that should be respected and preserved, not disturbed," Rawis said.          Therefore, Chairman of the executive board of NU, Said Aqil Siroj, called on the government to be more serious in protecting citizens from violence which of late often took place such as that in Pandeglang which claimed the lives of three Ahmadiyah followers.          "The state is obliged to protect every citizen. It should take firm action against perpetrators in accordance with the law in force," Siroj said.          He said that security officers were very slow in anticipating violent cases within society. "I regret police for not been able to act fast, even if they are smart, have the facility and intelligence networks," he said.          Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Bahrul Hayat also deplored the attack on the churches in Temanggung, saying it could have wide implications. "We deplored the incident. No one would like such an unlawful deed to happen," he said.          He said that blasphemy of religions and their symbols with certain motives would have implications and wide reactions to religious followers.          "We call on the people to realize that religions and their symbols are sensitive matters. It would draw strong reactions if there is a party who tries to insult or offend them," he said.          In the meantime,  President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also denounced the anarchic acts, according to Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto.           He said that the president has ordered the Central Java Police chief to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. "The president also instructed that those involved in the anarchic acts  be processed based on the law soon," he said.          The president also instructed security officers and regional government officials to increase their detection efforts, take preventive measures and firm actions against the perpetrators of the anarchic acts.          "The incident should thoroughly be investigated and those behind it should be acted upon firmly," the chief security minister said.          In the meantime, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) deployed officers to help maintain peace after clashes in Temanggung.           "There are about 700 military officers who are deployed to help maintain peace in Temanggung," National Police Spokesman Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar said.           He said that in order to provide preventive efforts the TNI was involved in safeguarding the Central Java city of Temanggung.          The police spokesman said that the incident was linked to sensitive religious issues (SARA) so that everybody was expected to play a role (in preventing the spread of the violence).           "We know the potential of a SARA conflict where this issue is extremely sensitive so that it is necessary to call on the people to maintain peace and preserve conducive conditions," he said.      (T.A014/A/HAJM/21:45/A/S012)08-02-2011 22:05:2

GOVT WARNED OF POSSIBLE IMPACT OF EGYPTIAN CRISIS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - Though no impacts of the Egyptian political crisis have been felt on the country's economy, businessmen warned the government of possible adverse effects on investment and trade.          Chairman of the Association of Indonesia Businessmen (Apindo) Sofyan Wanandi has reminded the government and businesses of the importance of anticipating the impact of the political tension in Egypt on economy and trade.          "Now the impact may not yet be felt, but certainly later it will  because of the uncertainties that would affect oil and gas prices. So we must immediately take anticipatory measures," he said.          The Egyptian crisis --where popular revolt demanded for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak and prompted many countries to evacuate their citizens, including Indonesia-- has received mixed reactions in the country.          Some state officials said it could cause adverse effects on the country's economy while others still doubted whether or not it would have impact, despite the fact that there has been price turmoil in the market.           "We see that the turmoil in commodity markets is only temporary because it is caused by the crisis in Egypt and in my mind it would not affect economies in Asian countries," Bambang PS Brodjonegoro, head of the fiscal policy affairs of the Finance Ministry, said here on Wednesday.          Actually, the Egyptian conflict has caused negative sentiments to the Asian stocks as well as to the country's composite stock index. This has affected the exchange rate of the Indonesian rupiah currency.          "The negative sentiment has put pressures on the Asian stocks which would finally affect the rupiah exchange," market analyst of Batavia Prosperindo Billy Budiman said on Monday.          However, except for European countries which at present are entering the winter season, Bambang said,  the Egyptian upheaval would have significant impacts on the Asian economies.          Bambang said the government had made various assumptions in the state budget based on a one-year period so that it would not be reactive to the Egyptian turmoil.          "The assumptions in the state budget are based on an annual basis. (Prices) are high now because it is still in the January - February winter season. Hopefully it will begin to go down in the April - May dry season period," he said.          He said that the crude price assumption of US$80 per barrel was set on the annual basis so that it would be too early to carry out price analysis and price changes.          "It is too early if we are now reacting to alter the assumptions owing to the fact that the present situation is still a result of the January period. We have to look a little bit far ahead," he said.           At present, crude prices have begun to increase in the world market.  However, Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu couldn't comment much on the possible impact of the Egyptian crisis on Indonesian trade, despite the fact that crude price had reached US$100 per barrel.          "We'll wait and see what is going to  happen in Egypt. The problem now is the oil price that has reached more than US$100 per barrel," the trade minister said.          According to Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, the government will watch oil price increases. "Of course we have to pay attention to oil price increases. I don't think there is a country willing for the price to increase when the world is facing economic difficulties," Hatta Rajasa said.          He said that if the oil prices were too high it would affect and slow down the manufacturing sector, thus at the end it would affect the country's economy.          "Even oil producing countries are also aware of it," the chief economic minister said.          At least the government at present has not yet seen the impact of political tension in Egypt on its trade with that country.          "Let us for the time being wait and see. We cannot as yet be able to see what would happen with regard to trade and investment. For the time being we cannot as yet see its impact. We hope the problem there could be immediately settled well," trade minister Mari Pangestu said.          Yet, the ongoing political crisis in Egypt is expected not to reach the Suez Canal as it would have a great impact on  commercial traffic through the waterway.  "I hope the crisis in Egypt does not  reach the Suez Canal because it would definitely  affect Indonesia's trade, especially with European countries," Robert J Bintaryo, a spokesman of the Trade Ministry said meanwhile.          Therefore, the Egyptian crisis must be anticipated.  According to the chairman of the permanent committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for the Middle East and the Organization of Islamic Conference, Fachry Thaib, the impact of the conflict must be anticipated.          "Although the impact on us will be small because the volume of our trade with them is very small, it will be dangerous if it spreads to other countries," he said.          Fachry said right now he had heard no confirmed reports about the declining activities in trade with Egypt or the loss Indonesian businessmen had suffered because of the conflict.          He said the conflict in Egypt would possibly have a real effect on exports of several commodities such as crude palm oil, paper and electronics.     (T.A014/A/HAJM/19:45/H-YH) (T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 02-02-2011 20:24:

BATAM RIOT SHOULD NOT SCARE INDIAN EXPATRIATES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, April 23 (ANTARA) - Ethnic Indians should not worry about a possible escalation of Thursday's riot at dockyard firm which was fueled by a racist remark by an Indian worker.          The company has localized the incident and police have assured that there would be no sweeping on ethnic Indians on the island.          After all, an Indian community leader in Batam has also offered an apology to the Indonesian people. So, the 200 ethnic Indians who have fled to Singapore are expected to return to Batam again.          Likewise,  the incident was not expected to affect Indonesia- India relations."An incident like this will never affect relations between Indonesia and India," Indian Consul General in Medan R. Sukumaran said on Friday.          About 200 ethnic Indians, or about 40 percent of Indians staying in Batam,  have fled to Singapore following Thursday's riot which hit  PT Drydocks World Graha, a firm  previously known as Labroy Marine's shipyard in Batam and  is managed by Singapore-based Drydocks World SE Asia.          "I heard that about 200 Indians have left Batam for Singapore," Indian community leader in Batam Devarajan Prakash said after a meeting with local government officials on Friday.          But he expressed confidence that all Indians who had left for Singapore would return to Batam again. Moreover, Deputy Reginal Police Chief for Riau Islands Sr Comr Bambang Budi Santoso assured that there would be no sweeping on ethnic Indians in Batam following the rioting.          About 5,000 workers at the dry dock company in Riau Islands rioted on Thursday, attacking their company's executives and foreign staff, mostly ethnic Indians, over racist remarks allegedly made by one of them.          "They were provoked by an Indian employee who said Indonesian workers were stupid," National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Zulkarnaen said.           The unrest has inflicted  damage on two offices and one building. At least 27 cars were set on fire by rioters. Zulkarnaen said 41 Indian employees of the company were escorted out by 400 Batam Police officers, including members of the elite Mobile Brigade (Brimob).          Indian community leader in Batam Devarajan Prakash has offered an apology to the Indonesian people for the insult made by the Indian employee.          "On behalf of all Indians, I offer an apology to all Indonesians," he said in tears after attending a meeting of regional leadership to discuss the incident in Batam on Friday. He formally conveyed the apology in a letter to the mayor of Batam. He said he would also make  the apology in several newspapers.          He said many Indians have lived in Indonesia for a very long time as well as in other cities across the world but they have never had problems. "This is the first time," he said.          Devarajan who has lived in Batam for 18 years said as  newcomers from India they must introspect and socialize with the local community so that no incident like Thursday's would recur.          He said he would gather Indian people living in Batam to discuss the problem  to prevent it from spreading.          PT Drydock World Graha's chief executive officer Denis Welch also offered an apology to the people of Indonesia. "We all deplore the incident. It is not good for Batam," he said. He said Drydock World intended to make long-term investment in Batam and therefore it needed a conducive atmosphere.          Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said the incident was related to the habit and culture of expatriates in a work place. "Unfortunately, local workers are not accustomed to accepting the habit," he said.       National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri said was purely caused by an internal conflict at the  company.  "It was purely an internal conflict and had nothing to do whatsoever with the Labor Day nor other factors," he said.          Neither was it exploited by other parties but it was merely caused by insulting language, he said. "It had nothing to do with Labor Day, much less to the situation in the lead up to Labor Day.It was purely an  internal conflict at the company," he said.          In the meantime,  Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said Thursday's riot was an "internal incident" and the company's management had taken steps to localize it. "It is merely an internal affair of the company. It was not a problem caused by a regulation," he said.          The management of the dockyard company had taken steps to prevent the riot from spreading. "At our meeting with a number of officials, including those from the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry earlier in the day, we came to the conclusion that the incident did not have a significant impact (on the region's security conditions)," he said.           In order to solve the problem, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed National Police Chief Gen Bambang Hendarso and State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Sutanto to take follow-up steps.          According to Presidential Spokesman Julian Aldrian Pasha, the head of state has received a complete report from the police chief about the riot.  The riot was sparked by a racist remark by a foreign worker.          The president therefore ordered the law enforcing agencies to settle the matter properly  so that it would not escalate and be exploited by people with ulterior intentions.          Although  conditions in Batam had now returned to normal and were under control, the president  called on all sides to remain vigilant to prevent a recurrence of the incident, Julian said.      (T.A014/A/HAJM/21:30/a014) 23-04-2010 21:33