Five dead, six injured in bloody W. Sumatra village clash

Kasparman, The Jakarta Post, Padang, West Sumatra

The situation in Pasaman, 180 kilometers north of Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, remains tense following bloody violence between the residents of two villages in the regency on Wednesday that claimed five lives and seriously injured six persons.

The chief of the West Sumatra Provincial Police, Brig. Gen. Adang Firman, said here on Friday that the situation in Pasaman was still not under control as the conflicting sides were still threatening one another despite the deployment of some 200 security personnel in the town.

"The situation is still not back to normal yet. But we will continue to persuade the two conflicting sides to settle their differences peacefully," he said.

He added that Pasaman Regent Baharuddin R. and Adj. Sr. Comr. M. Zaini, chief of the Pasaman Police, were still in the field trying to calm the situation and to bring the two conflicting sides to a peaceful resolution.

At least four people, identified as Budi, Syamsul Bachri, Yulifri, Achmad Sukandar and another unidentified person were killed in the clashes between the residents of Air Bangis village and Ujung Gading village.

Six other people are still in intensive care at the Pasaman General Hospital. They have been identified as Yendra Alfredo, Jung Sari, Sijed, Tigor, Masral and Anto.

Eleven minibuses were also damaged during the incident.

Adang explained that the clashes were triggered by a dispute between a passenger, a minibus driver and motorized pedicab driver. The dispute developed into a clash when those involved brought their supporters from the two villages.

Residents of Air Bangis took revenge when several minibus drivers from Ujung Gading burned down a pedicab belonging to a resident of the former village. Air Bangis's residents ran amok, burning eleven minibuses and the village head's offices.

The situation became even more volatile after a minibus belonging to a resident of Ujung Gading hit a resident of Air Bangis on the same day.

Adang said he has ordered officers from the local police office and paramilitary Mobile Brigade to act firmly against anyone violating the law.

"Strict action is now needed to help restore order and security, and calm the situation down," he said.

The clash was the second to take place in the regency this week. Another clash between residents of two villages also occurred in Talamau district, injuring seven people, including a police personnel.

The earlier clash was triggered by a dispute between two groups of residents over a road repair project in Tombang village in the Talamau district.