Fast action ordered for N. Luwu conflicts
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Wirabuana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusuma has ordered security personnel here to disarm warring residents in North Luwu regency.
The order was made on Friday following an overnight visit to the troubled area, some 240 kilometers north of here. During the unprecedented trip, Agus was accompanied by provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Mudji Santoso.
"Clashes will only cause the people to suffer," Agus told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
"I hope the sectarian conflict will not escalate as is happening in Ambon. I won't take the matter lightly, because it deals with human life. Even a single death is an extraordinary situation that needs handling quickly."
The protracted sectarian conflict in Maluku has claimed hundreds of lives since it first exploded in January last year.
Agus said he would return to the regency soon to hold dialogs with the locked-horned groups and seek a settlement to the conflict.
Tension was reportedly running high in several districts in North Luwu and Luwu regencies on the second day of Idul Fitri on Sunday following a series of communal clashes that first erupted on Dec. 29.
At least four people have reportedly been killed and scores more injured. The clashes have also left some 120 houses and public facilities damaged by fire.
Reports say communal conflict has been occurring regularly since 1985. It is often triggered by street brawls between teenagers, sparking intervillage clashes and later escalating into a full scale battle between natives of Tana Toraja and migrants from Java.
It is believed that hundreds of people have died in years of violence, not to mention the amount of buildings razed to the ground.
The government split the former Luwu area into two regencies last year in a last-ditch effort to quell the conflicts.
However, violence has continued to rock several districts, including Masamba, Sabbang, Wotu, Baebunta, Walenrang, Bone-Bone, Malangke and Burau in North Luwu regency; and Lamasi, Wara, Ponrang, Buffon, Bajo and Suli in Luwu regency.
Luwu regent Kamrul Kasim said hundreds of families in Tolemo village had fled their homes and sought refuge elsewhere due to the violence.
"Tolemo and Serita villages have been involved in a war since Jan. 2 and it's still going on," Kamrul said on Friday.
Rumors have circulated of further conflicts immediately after Idul Fitri celebrations, with the warring parties preparing to engage in brawls.
"Let's hope for the best and that such rumors stays as hearsay. We do not want conflicts. Aren't we all tired of them?" Karmul asked.
Conflicting groups are armed with homemade rifles, locally called papporo.
Agus expressed his bewilderment that fighting residents used homemade guns and used war-like strategies in their brawls.
"That's why we have no choice but to soon curb the conflicts and disarm the warring camps," he said. (27/edt)