Minister Pigai Deploys Staff to Handle Inter-Village Clash in East Flores That Killed Three

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has deployed the ranks of the Ministry of Human Rights’ Regional Office for East Nusa Tenggara to monitor a clash between residents that occurred in Adonara, East Flores. In a statement in Jakarta on Sunday, Pigai said the move was a form of government attention to handling the conflict, which has caused casualties and material losses. The field monitoring aims to obtain a comprehensive picture of the post-conflict community conditions while identifying steps needed to support a peaceful resolution. Pigai explained that the monitoring results will serve as material for coordination with the local government, traditional and religious leaders, and all relevant stakeholders. “Based on experience handling cases there, we assess that an approach through cultural solutions is far more effective than policing,” he said. According to Pigai, a culture-based approach is more effective than an approach that solely prioritises law enforcement aspects. He mentioned that involving traditional leaders and resolution mechanisms that exist within the community can rebuild trust and prevent similar conflicts in the future. The Ministry of Human Rights affirmed its commitment to continue coordinating with local governments, security forces, and community leaders to ensure the resolution of the clash incident proceeds peacefully, respects human rights, and provides a sense of security for affected residents. “The Ministry of Human Rights hopes the situation in Adonara will soon be conducive so that the community can return to their normal activities,” Pigai said. Based on preliminary data from the Ministry of Human Rights, the clash that occurred on Saturday, 18 July, resulted in at least three deaths and dozens of houses being burned.