The dead include twenty children. A police spokesman in Jakarta defended the Madurese escorts' failure to intervene, saying officials were outnumbered. The incident underscores accusations that the Indonesian military has done little to stop the violence against ethnic Madurese. The violence in central Kalimantan has triggered fresh criticism aimed at embattled President Abdurrahman Wahid. Politicians and respected religious leaders are now slamming the Muslim cleric turned president for his refusal to cut short his two-week trip to the Middle East.
Raies is the speaker of Indonesia's top legislative assembly.
Special forces from the army's airborne unit are now on their way to Kalimantan to reinforce extra battalions of police and soldiers. Pages will open in a new browser window External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive. An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you.