Sasak group suspects arson

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: An office belonging to an organization empowering the local Sasak community was set on fire in the early hours on Friday, Antara reported.

Winengan, the chairman of the United Young Sasak Council, suspected arson as the cause of the fire, noting that the perpetrators broke several windows before starting the fire, and that several drums containing gasoline were found nearby.

The council's office on Jl. Pendidikan Mataram escaped relatively unscathed, with the fire damaging a door and part of a back room.

Five men who were sleeping in the office were able to put the fire out.

Winengan expressed puzzlement at the fire and the motive for the incident, saying his organization had fought to improve the lot of the Sasak, the main ethnic group on Lombok island. (04)