Palu residents attack pig farms

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Members of a Muslim youth organization on Wednesday attacked several pig farms in South Tatura they said were polluting the area as the police looked on.

About 20 pigs were slaughtered in the attack and farmers estimated total losses at Rp 75 million (US$7,978). No one was injured.

The youths, mostly local villagers carrying spears, machetes and wooden sticks, began arriving at the breeding farms on Wednesday morning.

They attacked several sheds -- mostly belonging to Christians -- accusing the farmers of polluting the Palu River.

They were not arrested on leaving the scene despite the presence of police.

Muslim residents resented the presence of the farms and had filed their objections with the Palu municipal government, which recently ordered the farmers to relocate away from residential areas.

Farmers had ignored the order, sparking anger among Palu residents, who later took the law into their own hands.

Yorim, a pig breeder, said the attack was a brutal and cruel act of violence perpetrated by irresponsible people. The breeders would notify the city administration and the council, he said.

Yorim estimated the attack cost the pig breeders about Rp 75 million, which included the costs of the slaughtered pigs, which were worth between Rp 600,000 and Rp 800,000 each, he said.

South Tatura Muslim youth organization leader Abdul Haris defended the vandalism. The pig farms had polluted the area and threatened public order, he said.

"The farms give out a bad odor and this is offensive, especially during Ramadhan," Haris said.

He said he had warned the breeders several times to relocate their farms but had been ignored.

"As the pig breeders were so errant, we decided in a meeting to take decisive action to end the pollution and the stench," Haris said.