Minister orders suspension of regency split after deaths

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.