Provocateurs reported targeting Sumbawa town

Provocateurs reported targeting Sumbawa town

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Following their "success" in igniting
sectarian riots in Mataram, Lombok Island, provocateurs are now
targeting the town of Dompu in neighboring Sumbawa Island, police
claim.

Chief of Dompu Police Subprecinct, Lt. Col. M. Atmaja Wiguna
said in a telephone interview that a group of unidentified people
had recently tried to provoke racial discord among residents of
Dompu.

However their efforts apparently failed to incite unrest.

"The last effort was made on Feb. 10 at the Taropo
resettlement unit when three unknown people tortured a
transmigrant named Danu, who hailed from Bali," Atmaja said on
Wednesday.

Danu found a wounded goat on a roadside at noon, Atmaja said.

"Danu thought the goat didn't belong to anybody and so decided
to take the slain animal home. But a Suzuki van with three
unidentified men suddenly appeared. The three then stabbed Danu
in the head, legs and then rushed off," he said.

Witnesses claimed to have seen the van speeding across the
transmigrant complex heading in the direction of another
transmigrant complex occupied by people from Bima in Taropo, some
64 kilometers northwest of Dompu.

"There news quickly spread that Bali transmigrants were
planning to attack them," said Atmaja.

According to Atmaja, the two groups of transmigrants were soon
riled-up to the point that they had formed a mob ready to fight.

"Fortunately police arrived in time and separated them, and
briefed them that provocateurs must have tried to instigate a
racial clash in Dompu."

Sources said that police have no record of the Suzuki minibus
used by the alleged provocateurs.

"That means it must belong to people living outside the
regency," the source said. (zen/sur)