Clashes damage houses, ships

Clashes damage houses, ships

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post/Makassar

Separate communal clashes on Friday and Saturday in South
Sulawesi and Central Java left several people injured and dozens
of houses and ships damaged.

The clash in North Luwu regency, South Sulawesi, was triggered
by news that Cukki, 26, a resident of To'Kuning subdistrict in
neighboring Luwu regency, had been killed by a group of young
people from Saura subdistrict, North Luwu regency. Cukki was
apparently murdered after hitting Aco, a resident of Saura
subdistrict.

Cukki's death sparked anger among To'Kuning residents, who
descended on Saura subdistrict early on Friday morning seeking
revenge.

Dozens of To'Kuning residents, armed with sharp weapons, went
on a rampage in Saura subdistrict.

Several Saura residents were injured in the attack and 14
houses sustained major damage. Police officers quickly arrived on
the scene and restored order.

Luwu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Novi Ermansyah said police
were now in control of the area and that the situation was
returning to normal.

Officers are searching for suspects in To'Kuning subdistrict,
said Novi.

Separately, in Demak regency, Central Java, dozens of
residents of Morodemak subdistrict attacked residents of the
neighboring subdistrict of Margolinduk, injuring several people
and damaging 16 houses and several ships.

The attack followed a fight between youths from the two
subdistricts. A young man from Morodemak subdistrict was beaten
by several youths from Margolinduk subdistrict who spotted him
talking to a girl from their neighborhood.

The young man was repeatedly punched but was able to flee the
scene. He then returned to his neighborhood and gathered his
friends for a revenge attack.

After searching in vain for the people responsible for the
assault, the Morodemak youths went on the rampage in Margolinduk
subdistrict, throwing stones and attacking 16 houses. They also
damaged several ships belonging to local residents.

Police officers quickly arrived in the subdistrict and calmed
down the youths, Antara reported.