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Jakarta. Police in Tarakan, East Kalimantan, have arrested two people over the death of a tribal elder that led to his followers going on the rampage on Monday.

The clash between the indigenous Tidung tribe and youths from the Bugis ethnic group broke out after Tidung leader Abdullah, 50, was killed on Sunday night while confronting the youths over allegations that they had assaulted his son.

In retaliation, thousands of Tidung tribesmen went door to door on Monday searching for the perpetrators before burning down two homes.

The National Police said on Tuesday they had made two arrests and were still looking for three other suspects involved in Abdullah’s murder.

Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Untung Ketut Yoga said the two men arrested were Baharudin, 20, and Badarudin, 18.

“Both are suspected of being involved in the deadly assault against Abdullah,” he said, adding the case was “a purely criminal one” and “has nothing to do with ethnicity.”

“It was purely a misunderstanding between individuals, which was then followed by a quarrel that claimed a life,” Untung said.

Tensions have long simmered in Tarakan between indigenous groups and the Javanese and Bugis groups first brought over during the Dutch colonial era to work the oil wells there, although they have rarely turned deadly.

“We ask all elements of society to remain calm, and hopefully we won’t get a repeat of this incident,” Untung said. “The community leaders have also appealed for their people to stay calm.”

The security situation was currently “under control,” with most shops re-opening for business after being shuttered during Monday’s rioting, he said.

However, local residents reported the mood in Tarakan was still tense, with many shops in Bugis-dominated areas remaining boarded up on Tuesday.

“As of Tuesday evening, shops in those areas are still shut,” resident Ridwan said. “It’s like they’re scared to open up because the situation is still critical.”

Those areas included the subdistricts of Selumit, Beringin and Kampung Pukat, he said.

“Elsewhere in the town it looks like business as usual,” Ridwan added.

He said the situation on Monday had been chaotic as thousands of Tidung men armed with knives and other sharp weapons went on the prowl looking for the Bugis men involved in Abdullah’s death.

Another resident, Mulyadi Abdillah, said the Tidung men took to the streets again on Tuesday afternoon, but only to march to the Tarakan Police headquarters to demand Abdullah’s killers be brought to justice.

“They pretty much filled up all the roads leading to the police HQ,” Mulyadi said, adding that some were still seen roaming the streets on Tuesday night.

“We hope the situation cools down soon so we can get back to our lives,” he said.