Land dispute kills three

Land dispute kills three

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: At least three people have been
killed and 19 houses burned in a communal brawl between residents
of Longge and Raba villages in Macang Pacar district in Manggarai
regency, a police officer confirmed on Wednesday.

The police source, who asked for anonymity, said the clash
erupted on Monday afternoon and was triggered by a prolonged land
dispute between the residents dating back to 1970.

Manggarai regency is about 450 kilometers west of here.

The fatalities were identified as Mathias Kiung, 45, Kornelis
Ndiking, 35, and Martinus Taring, 40 -- all residents of Longge
village.

According to Macang Pacar district head Thomas Alex Subino,
earlier on Monday around 19 Longge residents harvested paddy
which was planted by Raba villagers on the disputed land.

Upon hearing that their crop were being harvested, Raba
villagers became enraged and arrived en masse to the paddy fields
to see off their rivals.

The three Longge residents were mobbed to death during the
brawl while the others managed to flee, later retaliating for the
attack by setting at least 19 houses belonging to Raba residents
on fire. (yac)