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Jakarta. Calm has been restored in Tarakan, East Kalimantan, after two warring ethnic groups signed a peace pact late on Wednesday.

Residents started returning to their homes on Thursday, after they were forced to flee violent clashes that began four days ago between members of the Dayak Tidung tribe and Bugis, an ethnic group from South Sulawesi.

Over 30,000 people were estimated to have fled their homes for the safety of military, police and navy facilities.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday congratulated all parties involved in brokering the peace pact.

“The president said thanks to East Kalimantan Governor Awang Farouk and ethnic groups from Bugis and Dayak who made the agreement,” Heru Lelono, the president’s public relations adviser, said on Thursday.

He said Yudhoyono had spoken to those leaders via telephone.

The president also asked security officers to ensure that peace is maintained in the area.

The pact was signed by the head of the South Sulawesi Family Union (KKSK) and a Dayak ethnic leader during a meeting with security officials, civic groups and religious leaders at the VIP lounge of the Juwata Airport in Tarakan.

Both camps vowed to end the violence and let law enforcers handle the case.

They promised to strengthen ties with other ethnic groups and agreed to call upon their members to stop carrying weapons.

Wednesday’s meeting was initiated by residents, local government officials and law enforcers.

The Tarakan clashes were triggered by the killing of Tidung leader Abdullah, 50, who was reportedly slain by Bugis youths on Sunday evening.

Abdullah had confronted them over accusations that they had insulted his son.

On Monday, thousands of Tidung tribesmen, armed with knives and other weapons, went door to door in search of the assailants.

The mob burned down two houses and the violence continued until early Wednesday.

Sr. Comr. Antonius Wisnu Sutirta, spokesman for the East Kalimantan Police, said five people were killed, dozens were injured and at least six houses were destroyed in the clashes.

The provincial police later issued a regulation that banned Tarakan residents from carrying weapons and firearms, in a bid to ensure that the conflict would not spread to other areas.

Separately, members of the House of Representatives criticized the National Police for failing to swiftly contain the violence in the area.

Priyo Budi Santoso, the House deputy speaker, said lawmakers are considering slashing the National Police’s 2011 budget if it fails to carry out its duties.

“The president needs to warn the National Police to take the necessary steps,” he said.

Police have been widely criticized for failing to contain recent conflicts in Indonesia.

After the conflict broke, National Police Chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said he had sent a Brimob paramilitary unit to Tarakan early on Wednesday.

“We have also gotten assistance from the military to secure the area,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mahfudz Siddiq, head of House Commission I that oversees security affairs, urged the state to ask the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) to play a more active role in dealing with such conflicts.