Manggarai clash unabated yet

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: The deadly clash between residents of Buti and Lanamai villages which started on Tuesday and killed two people in the regency of Manggarai had yet to abate on Friday.

The two villages were still tense on Friday despite the visit of regent Antony B. Dagur.

Manggarai police chief A.L.M. Tobing said that the situation had yet to return to normal, and that several policemen were still guarding the conflict area.

Spokesman for the regency Paulus Pado told The Jakarta Post that the death toll might rise as the two warring groups had yet to reach a peace deal. "They have been searching for each other. There is a possibility that they may be involved in fresh clashes."

Reports said that the villagers fought over a plot of plantation land in Lingko village, 60 kilometers east of Ruteng, the Manggarai regency capital.

A local Catholic priest said that the land dispute started in 1978 when residents of the two villages claimed ownership of the plot.

Another clash erupted in 1989 and the latest fray broke out in December of last year.

Eyewitnesses said that Tuesday's brawl was initiated by the attack on a Lanamai resident by some 500 people from Buti.

The dead villagers were identified as Damanius Lani and Victor Nadas, police said. (yac/sur)