One dies in vicious clash

JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of Duren Sawit Police officers of East Jakarta were busy on Monday securing the Malaka Jaya district of Klender, following a vicious clash on Monday between two groups of angry local residents, which resulted in one fatality.

Duren Sawit Police chief Capt. Listyo Sigit identified the dead victim as Lajumat, 36, a resident of Jl. Wijaya Kusuma II in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta.

"We are currently on the lookout for three people, who allegedly instigated the first clash," Listyo told reporters.

"The fight was between Ambonese and Madurese... so it's going to be a bit tough."

Listyo added that the clash was caused by a "very minor thing".

"The first machete strike, which occurred on Jl. Malaka Sari on Sunday night, was not targeted at the Madura satay vendor, Sariyin. Sariyin, who fortunately did not die, just happened to be there," Listyo said.

"On Saturday, there had been a fight between an Ambonese man and a Madurese man, over a matchstick, in East Jakarta. One said he needed it, the other said he did not have it... he might have said it rudely, and the fight started."

"We thought it ended there. But, it started again on Sunday."

The Sunday clash at 8:30 p.m., began when about three Ambonese men came up to Sariyin, 19, and immediately struck him with a machete on his head, on Jl. Malaka Sari in Duren Sawit.

Sariyin was immediately rushed to the Pondok Kopi Hospital in East Jakarta, Listyo said.

An unidentified number of Sariyin's friends went in search for an Ambonese man, identified as Ongensangaji, to settle the matter. Near the Klender bus terminal on Jl. Wijaya Kusuma, they suddenly spotted four Ambonese, at about 4 a.m. on Monday.

Sariyin's friend immediately pounced on the four Ambonese men, two of whom managed to get away.

Of the remaining two men, Lajumat was beaten to death while Kaemudin, 24, who was struck badly with a sickle on his back, and on his left and right hands, was rushed to the Persahabatan Hospital in East Jakarta. (07/ylt)