Dozens of houses burned in clash

PADANG, West Sumatra: Dozens of residents' houses in the village of Mulyo Kersik Tuo, in the Kayu Aro tea plantation in Kerinci regency, 400 kilometers from here, were burned down following a two-day clash between the residents which erupted on Monday.

Police could not confirm any fatalities.

Reports said that hundreds of migrants, mostly women and children, from West Sumatra and Jawa in Kerinci regency had fled, while the men stayed to stave off a possible attack from their "enemies".

"The indigenous people attacked the migrants," a local, who asked for anonymity, said.

Anther version said that the clash was due to the locals' jealousy of the migrants. "The conflict started a long time ago," another resident said. "Last week Governor Zainal Bakar visited Kerinci to deal with the clash." (28/sur)