Communal clash broke out in Sawahlunto<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Dozens of community leaders from the West Sumatra regency of
\nSawahlunto Sijunjung agreed on Thursday to resolve differences
\nafter clashes involving villagers from two districts.<\/p>\n
During the tense meeting at Sawahlunto Sijunjung Police
\nHeadquarters the leaders agreed that villagers from Padang
\nSibusuk who had attacked and looted Muaro Kalaban should repay
\nthe losses suffered.<\/p>\n
The losses were estimated at Rp 3.5 billion (US$411,764), said
\nSony, the chairman of Muaro Kalaban Youth organization.<\/p>\n
\"Both sides are expected to accept the outcome of the meeting,
\nso that there will be no more clashes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the community leaders also allowed the police to
\ninvestigate the incident to bring the perpetrators to justice.<\/p>\n
The incident began on Wednesday afternoon, the second day of
\nIdul Fitri holidays, when dozens of teenagers from both Padang
\nSibusuk and Muaro Kalaban were playing and swimming at a swimming
\npool in Muaro Kalaban.<\/p>\n
A dispute erupted, which ended in brawl, First. Brig. Zulkifli
\nsaid on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The dispute escalated. Teenagers from the neighboring district
\nof Padang Sibusuk, who were driven back to their district,
\ninformed their families that they had fought with their
\nadversaries.<\/p>\n
The families could not accept the defeat and hundreds of
\nresidents from Padang Sibusuk district, carrying sharp weapons
\nand riding in trucks, descended on the neighboring district and
\nattacked local residents and houses there.<\/p>\n
The attack turned into a rampage, with residents of Padang
\nSibusuk plundering valuables from dozens of houses and shops in
\nMuaro Kalaban. The buildings were set ablaze by the attackers
\nafterwards.<\/p>\n
The residents of Muaro Kalaban eventually consolidated their
\nforces and drove the attackers from their district on Wednesday
\nnight.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that three Muaro Kalaban residents were
\ninjured during the attack. They were being treated at a community
\nhealth center in Muaro Kalaban.<\/p>\n
The police arrived late at around 11 p.m, after the situation
\nhad returned to relative calm.<\/p>\n
As of Thursday, some 250 police personnel were patrolling
\nMuaro Kalaban.<\/p>\n
The districts, 90 kilometers north of the West Sumatra capital
\nPadang, are separated by a river.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/communal-clash-broke-out-in-sawahlunto-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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