Violence erupts in Bima, Sumbawa island

Violence erupts in Bima, Sumbawa island

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara (JP): As Mataram returned to
normal after being rocked by sectarian violence last week, the
town of Bima on the island of Sumbawa was hit by riots on Sunday.

Antara news agency reported on Monday that a place of worship
and a house were set ablaze by a mob in the village of Mbawa in
the Donggo district of Bima. The island of Sumbawa is east of
Lombok.

Bima Police chief Lt. Col. Burhanuddin Andi confirmed the
incident on Monday, saying that around 30 people, including
students, torched and damaged the place of worship and a house
belonging to an official at the place of worship. He did not
reveal if the place of worship was a church or a mosque, but said
that it was located some 60 kms west of Bima.

"The place of worship is at least one kilometer away from
residential areas, enabling the rioters to freely burn the
building," he said. Three other places of worship were saved from
the anger of the mob, he added.

Many people assume the mob hailed from another village. No one
has been arrested over the incident.

"A team has been established to investigate the case,"
Burhanuddin said.

The situation in Mbawa village and Raba was under control he
said. "Locals are active in maintaining the peace."

In a related development, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Harun Al
Rasyid stated that a good Muslim was a Muslim who never disturbed
others.

When officiating at an Ababil, a local civilian militia group,
ceremony in Central Lombok on Monday, the governor said there
must have been provocateurs behind the recent Mataram mayhem.
"Don't let the provocateurs roam around this area." he said.

Bali

Meanwhile, at least 25 youth and student organizations on Bali
have set up an umbrella organization to prevent sectarian
conflict from occurring on the island.

The Indonesian Muslim Student Association (HMI) and the
Indonesian Catholic Students Association (PMKRI) are among the
student organizations who have joined the umbrella organization.

Chairman of the Indonesian Hindu Dharma Student Association
Gentry F. Amalo officially announced the establishment of the
umbrella organization, called the Communique of Peace Lovers, in
Denpasar on Monday.

"We are trying to heal the wreck of religious harmony, which
has been ruined by a series of violent incidents" Gentry said.

Dozens of banners calling for peace were erected in all
corners of Bali as a preliminary step in the peace campaign.

The communique has raised funds for the victims of religious
clashes in Mataram, and members of the communique are also active
as volunteer workers at refugees camps.

"We just want to prove that solidarity can be built between
people of different races and religions, and that, finally,
humanity is beyond everything," he said. (zen/sur)