Luwu clashes continue in run-up to Idul Fitri<\/p>\n
By Jupriadi<\/p>\n
LUWU, South Sulawesi (JP): On more person died on Sunday as
\nclashes continued between armed residents in the Sabbang district
\nof Luwu regency, bringing the death toll from the week-long
\nstrife to six.<\/p>\n
In Rantela'bi hamlet in Kalotok village, attackers also looted
\nhomes, mainly targeting electronic items, police said.<\/p>\n
Truckloads of evacuees, mostly women and children, continued
\nto flow into the Luwu capital of Palopo from the villages of
\nDandang, Pompaniki, Kampung Baru and Kalotok, where at least 87
\nhouses have been set on fire since the clashes began last Monday.<\/p>\n
Hundreds now expect to spend the Idul Fitri holiday in refugee
\ncamps.<\/p>\n
Residents said the security forces had been outnumbered and
\nwere unable to confiscate weapons from the warring factions, as
\npromised. They also said the warring groups appeared to know when
\nthe security forces were due to arrive.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, police said a former teacher at a technical high
\nschool teacher in Toraja, 330 kilometers north of Ujungpandang,
\nhad been arrested and charged with making homemade firearms.<\/p>\n
Sources said the clashes would escalate after the Idul Fitri
\nholiday.<\/p>\n
What was initially said to be an alcohol-fueled fight between
\nteenagers has now escalated into a full scale battle between
\nresidents of the respective villages.<\/p>\n
\"We don't know how it became a battle of the kampongs,\" said a
\nresident of Dandang, a village where migrant communities from
\nJava, Bali and Tanah Toraja are concentrated.<\/p>\n
Private Iskandaria, a mobile brigade officer stationed in
\nKalotok, told The Jakarta Post that an average of 50 trucks a day
\nwere arriving in Palopo with evacuees from the affected area.<\/p>\n
A Kalotok resident died and dozens more were injured in
\nSunday's clashes. The dead man was identified as Pego. At least
\ntwo police officers were among those injured on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Deaths<\/p>\n
However police refused to confirm the deaths which residents
\nsaid included Husein, 18, Hasdil, 18, both residents of Kalotok
\nvillage and Rahim, 22 of Dandang village. Another was Haspin,
\nalso of Dandang, and Pego, whose origin was unknown. Locals said
\nrelatives immediately buried them.<\/p>\n
Wirabuana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Suadi Marasabessy
\npromised that steps would be taken to end the fighting, but
\nevacuees leaving the troubled area said that the security forces
\nhad yet to move on the rival gangs.<\/p>\n
\"The security forces have not yet acted to stamp out the
\nviolence. They have not confiscated any weapons like they
\npromised,\" Danang village chief Abdul Muin said.<\/p>\n
Male inhabitants of Dandang have set a watch near the forest
\nfringing their village to guard against any further attacks.<\/p>\n
More troops have been deployed in the area, but their presence
\nhas so far been ineffectual. \"They stop fighting when we arrive
\nand are at each other again as soon as we have gone,\" Iskandar
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Local resident M. Jibu said that each faction had developed
\nlines of communication to warn of the impending arrival of
\nsoldiers. \"It will be very hard to stop this battle,\" he said,
\n\"they can monitor the troops' movements.\"<\/p>\n
In Walenrang district, 470 kilometers north of Ujungpandang,
\ndozens of houses were burnt down, an evacuee from the district
\nsaid. \"It's worse there, it's even more difficult for the
\nsecurity forces to reach,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Almost 1,000 people have gathered at one evacuee post in
\nPalopo. Post coordinator F. Patoding said he lacked the necessary
\nfood and medicine to help them.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/luwu-clashes-continue-in-run-up-to-idul-fitri-1447893297",
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