Communal clashes feared to hurt investment

Police need to take stern measures to prevent and quickly settle communal clashes, unless they will trigger insecurity and undermine investment in the country, a senior House of Representatives lawmaker says.

Chairman of the House’s Commission VI on trade Airlangga Hartarto said on Thursday security problems such as sectarian conflict which erupted in Tarakan, East Kalimantan recently and acts of thuggery which occurred in Jakarta on Wednesday would scare investors away.

“We should not let acts of violence hurt the investment climate which has been improving. Therefore the National Police must be firm and quickly address communal conflicts and thuggery,” Airlangga said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Peace returned to Tarakan on Thursday after days of conflict between indigenous Dayak tribe and migrant Bugis ethnic left five people killed. The clash between two ethnic groups in South Jakarta claimed three lives and wounded a dozen of others on Wednesday.

Airlangga underlined that the police should give security in Jakarta a top priority due to its status as the capital city. “We have to maintain the image of Jakarta as the benchmark of the country’s security condition,” he added.
 
Realization of investment in the country has neared Rp 93 trillion (US$10.33 billion) in the first semester of the year, or 58 percent of the target, which has been set at Rp 161 trillion.