The Jakarta Post, May 25, 2005
Three die in fresh clash in Maluku
M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon
Fresh clashes have erupted in West Maluku Tenggara regency, Maluku on Friday,
killing three people and injuring 51 others, police said on Monday.
According to chief of West Maluku Tenggara police, Comr. Pol. Rudi Heru Susanto,
the clash between residents in Arma and Watmuri villages in Nirunmas district broke
out on Friday, apparently triggered by conflict over the villages' sea border.
"The two villages have long had problems over their sea border. They are fighting over
rights to collect sea cucumber in the conflict area," Rudi told The Jakarta Post on
Monday.
Friday's clash was the latest after a recent clash between the villagers in Dian Pulau
and Dian Darat against Danar villagers in Maluku Tenggara regency, which killed one
and injured 21 others.
The two villages, whose residents clashed on Friday, are separated by five-meter wide
road and have a clear sea border. The villages are a six-hour journey from the town of
Saumlaki, the capital of West Maluku Tenggara regency.
Rudi said the clash started during a clean-up drive at a community health center in
Arma village on Wednesday. A minor incident upset some Watmuri villagers, and
tension quickly escalated.
The clash erupted on Friday at 6 p.m. local time when Watmuri residents attacked
Arma residents.
During the clash, an Arma villager died and 30 others were injured, while from
Watmuri village two people died and 21 were injured.
"They were hit by blades, arrows and spears. Some are lightly injured but there are
also some who were seriously injured in the incident. The victims are now being
treated at a community health center in Nirunmas district," Rudi explained.
A medical team from West Maluku Tenggara regency would go to the villages on
Tuesday to help treat the injured victims, he added.
In order to maintain security in the two villages, West Maluku Tenggara police has
deployed 17 police officers and five Mobile Brigade personnel to the area.
Nirunmas district police have also deployed five officers to the border between two
villages.
"Latest reports say that the situation in the two villages is under control. In the
meantime, we'll investigate the case to find out who was responsible for the attack,"
he said.
As of Monday, he said, no villagers involved in the clash had been arrested. Police, he
added, were still focusing on dealing with the security situation.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
