Two die, eight missing in Kampar clash

Puji Santoso, Pekanbaru

Two people died, two more were severely injured and eight others went missing after a clash between two rival groups of youths in Kubang Jaya subdistrict, Siak Hulu district, Kampar regency, on Sunday night.

The situation was still tense after the incident on Monday, prompting police personnel to evacuate several families from Nias, North Sumatra, to a safer place.

According to witnesses, the deadly clash began on Sunday afternoon when Usman, 22, originally from Nias, walked past a canteen in the subdistrict along with four friends.

Suddenly, an ethnically Melayu youth shouted at Usman from inside the canteen, but this was ignored by Usman. The youth, who was apparently drunk along with a group of friends, was maddened by Usman's cool response and threw a bottle of alcoholic drink at Usman. Usman reacted to that and the two groups of youths from different ethnic backgrounds were soon locked in a brawl.

Usman and Yeso, 27, from Nias, were found dead separately after the brawl. The remains of Usman were found inside a hut while Yeso's were discovered under a bush, also nearby. Their bodies were full of stab wounds.

Two other victims with severe injuries, also from Nias, were Tohu Lahiya, 20, and Santo Hulu, 26.

They were taken to a nearby hospital after the incident.

Chief of Kampar police precinct Adj. Sr. Comr. Abdul Hasyim Gani confirmed the incident. Abdul Hasyim, who visited Kubang subdistrict on Monday following the incident, said that he had just met leaders from both ethnic groups in the subdistrict and calmed them down.

He said that police investigators had apprehended three people after the incident. "We're questioning them," he said without elaborating on which ethnic group the people belonged to. He also said that police were locating eight other people who went missing after the fatal incident.

Amoni Harefa, a Nias community leader, demanded police investigate the case and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Meanwhile, chief of Siak Hulu police subprecinct Adj. Comr. Zaenal Arifin said that his men had evacuated several Nias families from Kubang subdistrict, which is predominantly Melayu, for fear that they could be the target of further violence.

"We have evacuated them to a safer place until the situation returns to normal," he said.

Brawls between groups of differing ethnicity, religion or race are common in Indonesia, a heterogeneous country.