Luwu riot instigators being hunted<\/p>\n
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Police started on Tuesday to
\nhunt the instigator of the Luwu riot after arresting 22 people
\nfor their involvement in the mayhem.<\/p>\n
Parepare Police chief Sr. Supt. Mardjito told The Jakarta Post
\non Tuesday that the man had been identified. \"But I cannot reveal
\nhis name to you, or the ongoing manhunt will be disrupted.\"<\/p>\n
He said some 70 Police's Mobile Brigade troops had been
\nordered to comb the swampy areas around the riot-hit villages.
\n\"We believe the man is now hiding somewhere in the area.\"<\/p>\n
He said that Army personnel from the Military District Command
\n1403 Sawerigading also helped the manhunt. \"It is a continuation
\nof the previous operation in which the 22 people were arrested.\"<\/p>\n
In the previous operation one of the rioters was shot. \"They
\nused hand-made guns, called papporo,\" Mardjito said.<\/p>\n
He said that the situation was under control, but the flow of
\nrefugees continued as burning of houses had yet to stop. \"Rumors
\nhave it that rioting will erupt again soon.\"<\/p>\n
\"As many as 1,736 people left for Palopo, which is located
\nsome 75 kilometers south of their homes.<\/p>\n
In a related development, Luwu Police chief Supt. Anjaya
\nconfirmed that peace could be maintained in the villages of
\nCenning, Lembang-lembang and Wara. The three villages in the
\ndistricts of Malangke Barat and Baebunta were the most affected
\nin the riot.<\/p>\n
Police records indicate that 212 houses were razed in the
\ncommunal conflict.<\/p>\n
Anjaya said that rebuilding of residents' houses would also be
\ncarried out by the officers.<\/p>\n
Despite the fact that Luwu is adjacent to Poso (Central
\nSulawesi), Mardjito said that the Luwu conflict had no link with
\nthe Poso violence, where hundreds have been killed.<\/p>\n
\"The background of the Luwu clash, which first started in
\n1985, is revenge,\" said Mardjito. (27\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/luwu-riot-instigators-being-hunted-1447893297",
"image": ""
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