T

he West Kalimantan provincial capital of Pontianak was briefly gripped by tension on Thursday following a report that a major rally was going to be held by the Dayak people against the Islam Defenders Front (FPI).

The West Kalimantan Police were forced to deploy 100 Mobile Brigade (Brimob) personnel and 100 other Sabhara officers to help maintain security in the city. They were stationed in a number of vital areas.

The police later blockaded the Kapuas I Bridge, one of two major bridges linking several main roads in Pontianak, to prevent any movement by mass protesters.

Thursday’s rally was sparked by the lowering of a banner signaling the rejection of the FPI at the Dayak Pangsuma boarding house on Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Pontianak a day earlier.

The incident on Wednesday had actually been settled through a dialogue involving community figures, representatives from Dayak youth and FPI officers at the Pontianak Police headquarters in the evening.

Hundreds of Dayak people gathered at the Rumah Betang traditional house on Jl. Sutoyo, South Pontianak, not far from the governor’s hall. They planned to hold a peaceful rally to the West Kalimantan Police headquarters on Jl. A. Yani.

As the number of protesters grew, West Kalimantan Police chief Brig. Gen. Unggung Cahyono decided to go to Rumah Betang to talk with them and defuse the increasing tension.

Later, Unggung urged the public not to be easily provoked into taking any action that could affect local harmony.

“Please remember: don’t allow yourselves to be provoked. That’s our request,” Unggung said as quoted by the Antara news agency.

He said the public had to control their reactions and also not to provoke others, so as to keep the peace in West Kalimantan.

“With regard to the Dayak youths’ request for the disbandment of the FPI, the police will convey their request to the central government, which has the authority to do that,” West Kalimantan Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Mukson Munandar said.

Amid the tense situation, a number of Pontianak residents responded positively to the police chief’s request for peace. Their hopes for peace were conveyed on social-networking sites, where they reminded one another not to be provoked by issues relating to ethnicity and religion.

A resident named Rendra Oktora wrote a message: “Let’s make Pontianak peaceful and stop making a mess over things that are unclear. Let’s make West Kalimantan peaceful.” The message was hailed by many of his friends.

Another resident, Eka, hoped that nothing would happen in the city that could hurt anyone. “There must not be any clashes. Pontianak must remain secure and peaceful,” Eka wrote.

Last month, the Central Kalimantan administration issued a letter formally rejecting the presence of the FPI in the province.

The administration sent the letter to high-ranking officials in the central government, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, according to Central Kalimantan Deputy Governor Achmad Diran.

“The letter says that we firmly reject the FPI and won’t let the FPI establish a chapter in the province, as it contradicts the local wisdom of the Dayak people, who uphold peace,” Achmad said.