Oyos Saroso H.N., Bandar Lampung – Two people were killed during a large-scale clash involving residents from different villages in Gedungjaya, Gedungnyapah subdistrict, East Abung district, North Lampung regency, on Wednesday evening, allegedly over the recent murder of the subdistrict head.
Fighting broke out as hundreds of people from a number of villages in the subdistrict attacked Gedungjaya village at about 8 p.m.
Armed with sharp weapons and homemade guns, the attacking crowd started to burn houses, forcing villagers in Gedungjaya to flee. Two of them – Mukorobin and Nurodin – did not manage to escape, however, and they were killed in the clash.
North Lampung Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Frans Sentoe, said there was a strong indication that the brawl was triggered by the killing of Gunungnyapah subdistrict head Saidal, 46, on Monday evening. He was beaten to death by residents from his own subdistrict during a meeting to mediate a land dispute between villagers from Gunungnyapah and the neighboring Papanrejo subdistrict.
According to some reports, the atmosphere at the mediation meeting, which was held at the Gunungnyapah subdistrict hall, became increasingly tense as Saidal proposed to hand over the disputed land to Papanrejo subdistrict.
Gunungnyapah residents immediately accused him of having made a deal with the people of Papanrejo. They then proceeded to attack Saidal, beating him with wooden sticks and sharp weapons, resulting in his death.
Another version of the incident, however, has been given by three suspects, currently in police custody, who have been accused of killing Saidal at the meeting.
They claim that during the meeting, Saidal proposed that in order to settle the dispute, those present should pay him a fee of Rp 15 million (US$1755) per hectare of the disputed land. When participants did not respond to his request, Saidal became verbally belligerent and took out a cleaver.
According to the suspects, Saidal then chased one of the villagers, followed by his relative, Mashur. In trying to defend the villager, other villagers got hold of Saidal and started to beat him. Mashur escaped.
This was what later triggered residents from neighboring villages to attack Gedungjaya, home to the three alleged killers of Saidal.
"So far we have only arrested three people allegedly involved in the violent clash that killed their subdistrict head," Frans Sentoe said.
Frans said the three admitted to having participated in the beating of Saidal. They beat him with bamboo sticks, along with tens of other people at the meeting. As of Thursday, tensions in Gedungnyapah had yet to decrease. Hundreds of police and military personnel were still seen guarding the subdistrict and the surrounding villages. Many of Gedungjaya's villagers have opted to seek shelter in other villages due to their fears of further reprisals.
North Lampung Regent Zainal Abidin said that he and his team had consistently tried to negotiate with the parties involved in the conflict. "Land disputes are very vulnerable to conflict. We have to be extremely careful in dealing with cases. Apart legal measures, we also apply customary approaches," Zainal said.
Data at the Legal Aid Institute's (LBH) Bandar Lampung branch shows that as of 2011, there are some 350 cases of land disputes in Lampung province that have yet to be settled. Most of them concern customary land that is sought after by large companies.