Minister orders suspension of regency split after deaths
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi
Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno ordered on Friday the suspension of a decision to divide Polewali Mamasa (Polmas) into two regencies in South Sulawesi, following the killing of at least three people in attacks sparked by the proposed split.
The three victims were among residents from the three subdistricts of Aralle, Mambi and Tabulahan, staunchly opposed to the division, which is endorsed by Law No. 11/2002 on the creation of Mamasa regency.
They were allegedly beaten to death on Monday and Tuesday by supporters of the separation.
"If there is a conflict like that in the divided regency, the split must be suspended or status quo restored," Hari told journalists in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
He said the division of Polewali Mamasa into two regencies of Polmas and Mamasa was actually aimed at improving the administrative services for local people.
The minister said the regional administration should deal with any problems stemming from the policy enacted by the central government.
"If there is conflict in the region, (the local administration) should find a solution, because the central government has never issued a decision without consultation at the lower level," he argued.
In response, South Sulawesi Governor Amin Syam said his administration has taken over the handling of the issue, but blamed the central government for failing to accommodate the aspirations of the local people.
The provincial administration has suggested that the three subdistricts opposed to the split not be included as part of the newly created regency, but the central government turned a blind eye to the suggestion.
Meanwhile, tension still engulfed Polmas and Mamasa, some 380 kilometers from Makassar, on Friday, with local residents keeping on guard in their respective villages amid rumors of revenge attacks by rivals.
An exodus of refugees, mostly women and children, from the feuding villages continued as they fled their homes to seek safety in houses of their relatives and friends in safer areas.
Security forces established roadblocks in the border areas between the feuding villages, aimed at preventing further attacks.
They also approached local community leaders to promote dialog among the conflicting residents.
The South Sulawesi Police said they had questioned four people as witnesses in the attacks that killed three supporters of the division.
The police were also searching for several people suspected of perpetrating the attacks.
Also on Friday, around 50 youths and students staged a rally at the province's legislative council in Makassar to protest the division.
They demanded that the House and the home affairs minister be held responsible for the violence in Mamasa over the enactment of Law No. 11/2002.
The protesters slammed the law as "legally flawed".
They also urged the police to thoroughly investigate the incident and immediately detain suspects.
Asked about calls for the central government to revise the law, Minister Hari said the idea should be discussed with the House.
Apart from the historical and geographic factors, religious differences have partly been blamed for the mounting opposition to the regency's split.
Mamasa is a predominantly Christian area, while residents from the Aralle, Mambi and Tabulahan subdistricts who opposed the division are mostly Muslims.