The Jakarta Post, October 17, 2004
Conflict reignites in Mamasa
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After a year of relative peace, a violent communal conflict erupted again on Saturday
in Aralle district, Mamasa regency, West Sulawesi province, leaving scores of homes
and a church burned.
No fatalities were reported, Antara news agency reported.
Witnesses said that the renewed conflict began to flare up on Thursday, when minor
clashes occurred between those who supported and opposed a split of Polewali
Mamasa regency into two regencies: Polewali Mamasa and Mamasa.
The conflict dragged on until dawn Saturday when at least 18 houses and a church we
set on fire and razed. It was not clear, which group was responsible in the arson
attack.
The residents of Aralle, Tabulahan and Mambi districts come from two distinct groups.
The first is the Muslim transmigrants from western Indonesian islands, who oppose
the split of Polewali Mamasa into two regencies. They are, however, a minority in the
regency, which is dominated by the native residents, most of whom are Christians.
A local police officer said that some 200 policemen had been deployed to restore
order in the area, especially Aralle.
The prolonged conflict in Mamasa regency dates back to the end of 2002, when the
central government gave the green light for a split of Polewali Mamasa.
The decision sparked an uproar among residents of three districts in Mamasa
regency, namely Aralle, Tabulahan and Mambi districts, which have a population of
around 20,000.
The conflict heightened in September 2003, when a major clash occurred in the three
districts, leaving three dead and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
Ethnicity, religion and economic factors have fueled the violence.
The deep socio-religious differences often exacerbate problems and lead to fatal
conflicts.
Mamasa regency is now part of the newly established West Sulawesi province, which
recently split off from South Sulawesi province. West Sulawesi province has five
regencies; Polewali Mandar, Mamasa, Majene, Mamuju and North Mamuju.
Separately on Saturday, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, who was in Mamuju,
the capital of West Sulawesi province, was apparently already informed about the
renewed clashes. Hari was in Mamuju, some 540 kilometers north of Makassar, the
capital of South Sulawesi province, to inaugurate West Sulawesi province as the
nation's 33rd province, following a recent endorsement by the House of
Representatives.
In his speech in the inauguration ceremony, Hari urged the acting governor of West
Sulawesi province, Oentarto Sindung Moewardi, to resolve the prolonged conflict in
the three districts.
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