Conflict reignites in Mamasa

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After a year of relative peace, a violent communal conflict erupted again on Saturday in Aralle district, Mamasa regency, West Sulawesi province, leaving scores of homes and a church burned.

No fatalities were reported, Antara news agency reported.

Witnesses said that the renewed conflict began to flare up on Thursday, when minor clashes occurred between those who supported and opposed a split of Polewali Mamasa regency into two regencies: Polewali Mamasa and Mamasa.

The conflict dragged on until dawn Saturday when at least 18 houses and a church we set on fire and razed. It was not clear, which group was responsible in the arson attack.

The residents of Aralle, Tabulahan and Mambi districts come from two distinct groups. The first is the Muslim transmigrants from western Indonesian islands, who oppose the split of Polewali Mamasa into two regencies. They are, however, a minority in the regency, which is dominated by the native residents, most of whom are Christians.

A local police officer said that some 200 policemen had been deployed to restore order in the area, especially Aralle.

The prolonged conflict in Mamasa regency dates back to the end of 2002, when the central government gave the green light for a split of Polewali Mamasa.

The decision sparked an uproar among residents of three districts in Mamasa regency, namely Aralle, Tabulahan and Mambi districts, which have a population of around 20,000.

The conflict heightened in September 2003, when a major clash occurred in the three districts, leaving three dead and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.

Ethnicity, religion and economic factors have fueled the violence.

The deep socio-religious differences often exacerbate problems and lead to fatal conflicts.

Mamasa regency is now part of the newly established West Sulawesi province, which recently split off from South Sulawesi province. West Sulawesi province has five regencies; Polewali Mandar, Mamasa, Majene, Mamuju and North Mamuju.

Separately on Saturday, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, who was in Mamuju, the capital of West Sulawesi province, was apparently already informed about the renewed clashes. Hari was in Mamuju, some 540 kilometers north of Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, to inaugurate West Sulawesi province as the nation's 33rd province, following a recent endorsement by the House of Representatives.

In his speech in the inauguration ceremony, Hari urged the acting governor of West Sulawesi province, Oentarto Sindung Moewardi, to resolve the prolonged conflict in the three districts.