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ituation in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan province, has returned to normal the weekend after the city was hit by a brief but serious bout of tension over a misunderstanding between the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) and ethnic Dayaks.

West Kalimantan Police have assured that security and public order had been restored.

“The conducive situation was reached due to cooperation among nearly all parties, ranging from community figures, youths, religious leaders and representatives of the security agencies and the government,” West Kalimantan Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Mukson Munandar said Saturday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Mukson urged all people in West Kalimantan to help maintain the peace.

The West Kalimantan Police were forced to deploy more officers to help maintain security in the city upon rumors there would be a major rally by the Dayak people.

Scores of security officers were stationed in a number of the city’s vital areas.

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

Thursday’s uncertain situation was sparked by the unfurling of a banner that signaled the rejection of the FPI at the Dayak Pangsuma boarding house on Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Pontianak on Wednesday.

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.

On Thursday, various baseless rumors were spread, saying there had been an ethnic war. There were others that said there were many victims. Even there were reports that said indigenous Dayak people had been ready to go from their regions to Pontianak.

In response to the rumors about possible riots spread through SMS and BlackBerry Messenger and other social media, the Pontianak City Administration decided to close all schools, from elementary to high schools, across the city on Friday.

“The cancellation of teaching and learning activities was applied only on one day,” Pontianak Mayor Sutarmidji said as quoted by kompas.com. He said that this decision was made in order to help security officers to maintain security in the city.

Previously, West Kalimantan Governor Cornelis, who is also general chairman of the Dayak Traditional Council, assured that people in regions would not flock to Pontianak and disturb security conditions in the city.

“I will thank the security officers — both the police and the military personnel from the Tanjungpura Military Command — who have worked hard to prevent the incident from spreading,” he said.

The governor also thanked the media, which had run soothing reports on the situation.

“We, the West Kalimantan provincial administration, will protect all of its people regardless of their religion or ethnicity. We’re one nation and one country,” he said.