Sumba police net 11 looters

Sumba police net 11 looters

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: Police in the West Sumba regency
capital of Waikabubak have detained 11 people for looting from
houses left empty by their owners following last week's tribal
clashes.

Waikabubak Police chief Lt. Col. S.M. Simatupang was quoted by
Pos Kupang daily on Tuesday as saying that all of the suspects
were currently detained, pending further investigation.

"The number of suspects might increase further," the officer
said.

According to Simatupang, the 11 people were caught red-handed
looting items, mostly electronic goods and kitchen tools, from
the empty houses last Thursday.

Last week's fight between the Wawewa Timur tribe and the rival
Loli tribe killed at least 23 people.

The dispute between the warring groups was first recorded in
1960 over a land claim. Similar clashes for similar reasons were
then recorded in 1970 and 1992.

Last week's killings were believed to have been triggered by
suspicions that recruitment for jobs in the local administration
was rigged.

People heard that some candidates who had not even sat the
recent recruitment tests were given jobs, a staffer of the
regency office said.

A demonstration was then staged in which the regent reportedly
addressed demonstrators in a rude manner.

But a rumor to the effect that a Loli tribesman had been
killed at a local market on Monday last week was believed to have
prompted the killings. (yac/jun)