Brawls in Kupang leave two killed

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

At least two people were killed and 40 houses burned down as brawls between residents continued on Tuesday in the subdistrict of Rote Barat Laut here.

A number of elementary and secondary schools located in trouble areas sent students home early due to the violence.

The clashes broke out last week, involving residents of the villages of Oeseli, Oebo and Lalokoen. The fighting resulted in the deaths of two Oeseli villagers, identified as Wellem Mooy and Ibrahim Mooy.

The violence has since spread to neighboring villages. It remains unclear what triggered the brawls. Residents and local officials have said they are unaware of the cause of the violence.

"We just heard rumors that the brawls began after the theft of an animal. But nobody definitely knows whether that information is correct," Nikolas Pala, secretary of the Rote Barat Laut subdistrict office, said on Tuesday.

He said a number of schools in Oeseli, Oebo and Lalokoen were closed temporarily because teachers and students, along with their parents, had fled the villages to seek refuge.

Rote Barat Laut Police chief Adj. Comr. Dominggus Banamtuan said he had deployed 28 officers to the villages to restore order and arrest those involved in the violence.

"Those involved in brawls will be arrested. In the meantime, villagers who took refuge have not yet returned home. That is why schools in the three villages remain closed," he said.