C. Sulawesi still tense after deadly village riot

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The situation in the Central Sulawesi regency of Donggala remains tense following a bloody brawl between two villages in the regency on Wednesday.

Residents of the neighboring villages of Watunonju and Bora in Sigi-Biromaru subdistrict have been reluctant to leave their homes and have increased security of their villages at night. Schools located in the villages remain closed.

Antara news agency reported on Friday that of 800 farmers in the two villages, very few have tended to their fields since the brawl for fear of being caught in renewed violence.

At least two people were killed and eight others, including a police officer, were injured in Wednesday's brawl.

Watunonju village head Asri Pasau said the situation became even more tense on Thursday after Pito, 16, died from severe head injuries suffered in the violence.

He also said that over the last two days, gunshots were heard and abandoned homes had been burned in the area separating the two villages.

"Many people taking refuge in adjacent villages and even in the provincial capital of Palu have declined to return home for fear of new violence. Both sides are still suspicious of one another and still have their home-made guns and machetes," he said.

Machmud, a resident of Watunonju, said the situation remained tense because both sides had yet to meet and find a peaceful solution to their problems.

He said schools had shut down until the situation returned to normal. "Local authorities recommended schools suspend their activities because the schools are located in the area prone to clashes."

The police in Donggala have deployed dozens of officers to confiscate guns, arrows and machetes from residents of the villages.

Officers have so far seized seven hand-made guns, several arrows and two machetes, but no one has been detained.