Three killed in communal clash in South Sulawesi

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

At least three people have been killed, four seriously injured, and more than one hundred houses burned down following a communal clash between residents of Cappasolo and Padang villages in East Malangke subdistrict, North Luwu regency, South Sulawesi, since Monday.

The clash forced hundreds of residents from both villages to move to safer locations, at Palopo, Luwu Regency and other nearby villages.

Security forces were deployed immediately to the location to restore order, but failed to prevent the exodus.

As of Wednesday the situation was still tense.

The three casualties were identified as Bachtiar, 62, Tira, 60, and an unidentified young girl. They were all residents of Cappasolo village.

Witnesses said the clash, between residents of Cappasolo and Padang, erupted at dawn on Monday when several Cappasolo residents attacked the residents of neighboring Padang village.

The attack prompted the Padang villagers to take up weapons, leading to the communal clash.

A witness said the attack was prompted by the prolonged retaliation of residents from both villages.

"The cause of the clash is vengeance from long ago," the witness told The Jakarta Post by phone from Palopo, the capital of Luwu Regency.

The authorities immediately deployed three platoons of police to the site of the incident.

The security forces carried out raids in and around the location in search of homemade weapons or machetes brought by the opposing sides. But no information was available about the weapons that had been confiscated.

"The three platoons deployed in the location have helped calm the tension, but Cappasolo residents keep moving toward the town of Palopo," said North Luwu Regent Luthfi A. Mutty.

Luthfi added that the clash had forced residents in Cappasolo and Padang villages to move to downtown Palopo and Malangke respectively.

The frightened residents also sought places of safety in the villages of Buloe, Pabombong, Birue, Kopi-kopi, Baebunta, Sabbang, Bonebone, and Masamba.

He also confirmed that at least 128 houses in the two villages had been burned down.