Music show erupts in communal violence

Music show erupts in communal violence

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: A communal clash broke out on
Saturday during a dangdut music show in the village of Mesuji in
Ogan Komering Ilir, some 200 kilometers south of Palembang, the
capital of South Sumatra.

The incident left two people dead and two others injured.

An assistant to Ogan Komering Ilir district head, Sulaini
Manaf, said the clash, involving villagers from at least three
different neighborhoods, erupted in Dusun IX Kotabaru at around
11 p.m.

He said the clash was initially sparked by quarrels during the
music event as some spectators insisted on dancing on the stage,
ignoring the organizing committee's rules prohibiting such
behavior.

Scuffles broke out and two residents, Tholib and Pardi, were
killed, while Krisna and Pande suffered mild injuries. Both
fatalities were mobbed to dead.

Police were alerted later to disperse the crowds and village
heads were summoned to help security forces to calm their
villagers down. (33)