Conflict reignites in Mamasa

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.