Parking fee fracas in Bali

DENPASAR, Bali: A clash between villagers in Seririt regency in Buleleng, 120 kilometers northwest of here, erupted on Thursday morning leaving two people badly injured.

"The clash was ignited by a trivial misunderstanding between several youths from two villages," chief of Buleleng Police Lt. Col. Abdul Rahman told The Jakarta Post.

It is believed that the clash erupted after a youth from Kalopaksa village was beaten up a day earlier by suspected members of the Seririt Security Guards (Pakomser), whose members are mostly residents of Patemon village.

The young man was apparently attacked because he resisted paying a parking fee required by the guards. This then sparked several retaliatory attacks between the two villages.

Local police are currently on the scene and have called in additional forces from Denpasar to stop further clashes. (zen/01)