W. Sumatra regency on edge following deadly clashes
W. Sumatra regency on edge following deadly clashes
Kasparman, The Jakarta Post, Padang, West Sumatra
The situation remained tense in Pasaman regency, West Sumatra, on
Monday, six days after a clash between two villages there left
five people dead and six others seriously injured.
The violence prompted the West Sumatra provincial police to
take over security in the regency and deploy additional officers
to the area.
West Sumatra Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Lango Simalango
said 400 additional officers had been deployed in Pasaman
following last week's violence.
"For the time being, we are taking over security," he said,
adding that West Sumatra Police chief Brig. Gen. Adang Firman had
been in the regency since last Saturday.
"He (Adang) has issued a shoot-on-sight order against rioters
in order to prevent further unrest there," Lango said.
The clash between residents of Air Bangis and Ujung Gading
villages last Wednesday night followed a dispute over passengers
between drivers of minibuses and motorized pedicabs. Eleven
minibuses were destroyed in the ensuing clash.
Then last Friday, two police officers patrolling the area on
bikes were injured when an unidentified party threw a homemade
bomb at them.
Throughout Sunday and Monday the situation in Pasaman remained
tense. Police have intensified their patrols and there are
security posts at almost every crossroad in the two villages.
The streets of Air Bangis are deserted, with residents, most
of them fishermen, remaining indoors.
Some people have fled Air Bangis, seeking the safety of
Panjang island, which is located about seven miles offshore.
In Ujung Gading, locals have constructed barricades to block
roads leading to markets and other centers of economic activity.
"We've asked them to stop putting up barricades and are now
trying to clear the streets leading to Air Bangis," police
spokesman Lango said.
He said the provincial police chief and the Pasaman
administration were trying to arrange a meeting between leaders
of the two villages in an effort to defuse the tension.
"The police chief has met and held talks with the people in
order to find a peaceful solution. Meanwhile, however, we have
taken over security in both areas," Lango said.
Also in Pasaman regency last week, the residents of two
villages in Talamau district clashed, leaving seven people,
including a police officer, injured.
The conflict was triggered by a dispute over a road repair
project in Tombang village.
According to the head of the West Sumatra provincial council,
Masfar Rasyid, Pasaman regency is prone to conflicts because of
the many different ethnic groups living in the area.
"We have asked the regent of Pasaman, Pak Baharuddin, to do a
better job anticipating these clashes. They occur quite often in
that area," he said.