Unrest continues in Luwu regency
Unrest continues in Luwu regency
LUWU, South Sulawesi (JP): Clashes among residents from
several villages in the district of Sabbang in Luwu regency which
have killed at least three people and injured dozens more
continued on Thursday.
The unrest which started on Monday forced at least 400
residents from the warring villages, Dandang, Pompaniki, Kampung
Baru and Kalotok, to seek refuge in the Luwu capital of Palopo,
about 550 kilometers north of the provincial capital of
Ujungpandang, on Thursday.
It was earlier reported that five people had been killed but
so far only three have been identified -- Husein, 18, Hasdil, 18,
and Rahim, 22.
At least 87 homes were set on fire in the clashes on Monday
and Tuesday.
Local police however said on Thursday that they had been able
to contain the conflict after at least 300 Mobile Brigade
personnel were deployed to the area. A truck full of military
personnel sent to secure the area had an accident in which four
were injured.
The cause of the fighting was still not clear but Wirabuana
Military Commander Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy suspected on
Thursday that the rioting was triggered by inter religious and
ethnic tensions. Another local officer had suggested "revenge and
drink."
Meanwhile in Ujungpandang, authorities seized at least 336
pieces of military certified 7.62 millimeter ammunition from the
house of a resident, Daeng Tutu, on early Thursday.
Suaidi said that the ammunition was ordered by someone in
Palopo. He suspected that the ammunition would be used in the
clashes between residents of the warring villages.
Residents and security personnel said that warring parties had
armed themselves with homemade firearms and an assortment of
crude weapons.
Suaidi admitted that ammunition of the type confiscated once
belonged to the armory of the Armed Forces (ABRI).
However he said that he still could not confirm whether the
ammunition was from an ABRI arsenal as the matter was still under
investigation.
Suaidi was in the provincial capital along with South Sulawesi
Police chief Brig. Gen. Mudji Santoso on Thursday to brief the
local legislators about the latest situation in Luwu.
Suaidi added that the authorities had also found a location on
Wednesday suspected to be a "factory" for the assembly of
homemade firearms in Toraja, some 330 kilometers north of
Ujungpandang,
He said that security personnel since Wednesday had been
raiding houses in the warring villages to search for homemade
firearms and sharp weapons.
Monday's unrest was the latest incident in a long-standing
dispute between the villages. Since last August, 26 people have
been killed, 119 more injured, and at least 395 houses have been
set on fire. (27/30/37/byg)