Brawl kills three in Manggarai

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: At least three people were killed when residents from two villages in Manggarai Regency clashed over the weekend, Pos Kupang reported on Monday.

Regent Gaspar Parang Ehok told the daily that the brawl, which pitted Lao Desa villagers against Dalo village residents, was sparked by a land dispute. He said security authorities restored order.

"Envy (between the villages) has a long history. A clash almost erupted early this year, but was interrupted," Gaspar said. The latest clash, in which residents armed themselves with spears, swords and arrows, lasted three days after beginning on Friday.

Gaspar said he was waiting for reports on the brawl, including identification of the fatalities.

The dispute between the two groups originated from a court ruling which granted the demand for five plots of land filed by Dalo villagers in 1967. Protesting the verdict, Lao villagers appealed to higher courts. The East Nusa Tenggara High Court awarding them two of the plots in 1985 and the Supreme Court sustaining the ruling in 1990. (yac)