Three die in fresh clash in Maluku<\/p>\n
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon<\/p>\n
Fresh clashes have erupted in West Maluku Tenggara regency,
\nMaluku on Friday, killing three people and injuring 51 others,
\npolice said on Monday.<\/p>\n
According to chief of West Maluku Tenggara police, Comr. Pol.
\nRudi Heru Susanto, the clash between residents in Arma and
\nWatmuri villages in Nirunmas district broke out on Friday,
\napparently triggered by conflict over the villages' sea border.<\/p>\n
\"The two villages have long had problems over their sea
\nborder. They are fighting over rights to collect sea cucumber in
\nthe conflict area,\" Rudi told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
Friday's clash was the latest after a recent clash between the
\nvillagers in Dian Pulau and Dian Darat against Danar villagers in
\nMaluku Tenggara regency, which killed one and injured 21 others.<\/p>\n
The two villages, whose residents clashed on Friday, are
\nseparated by five-meter wide road and have a clear sea border.
\nThe villages are a six-hour journey from the town of Saumlaki,
\nthe capital of West Maluku Tenggara regency.<\/p>\n
Rudi said the clash started during a clean-up drive at a
\ncommunity health center in Arma village on Wednesday. A minor
\nincident upset some Watmuri villagers, and tension quickly
\nescalated.<\/p>\n
The clash erupted on Friday at 6 p.m. local time when Watmuri
\nresidents attacked Arma residents.<\/p>\n
During the clash, an Arma villager died and 30 others were
\ninjured, while from Watmuri village two people died and 21 were
\ninjured.<\/p>\n
\"They were hit by blades, arrows and spears. Some are lightly
\ninjured but there are also some who were seriously injured in the
\nincident. The victims are now being treated at a community health
\ncenter in Nirunmas district,\" Rudi explained.<\/p>\n
A medical team from West Maluku Tenggara regency would go to
\nthe villages on Tuesday to help treat the injured victims, he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
In order to maintain security in the two villages, West Maluku
\nTenggara police has deployed 17 police officers and five Mobile
\nBrigade personnel to the area.<\/p>\n
Nirunmas district police have also deployed five officers to
\nthe border between two villages.<\/p>\n
\"Latest reports say that the situation in the two villages is
\nunder control. In the meantime, we'll investigate the case to
\nfind out who was responsible for the attack,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As of Monday, he said, no villagers involved in the clash had
\nbeen arrested. Police, he added, were still focusing on dealing
\nwith the security situation.<\/p>",
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