Maluku clash kills 3

An intervillage clash broke out on the Eastern Indonesian island of Seram in Central Maluku district, Maluku Province, early Saturday morning, leaving at least three people dead, police said.

Central Maluku district police chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Widodo said the three fatalities were identified as Edward Unwaru, 84, Welmina Pattiasina, 47, and her grand daughter Yola Pattiasina, 6.

He said the clash erupted following a land dispute between the people of Saleman village and Horale village in North Seram sub district in Central Maluku.

Widodo said at least three people of Horale village were killed, two others reported missing, and about 60 houses, a school building and three houses of worship were set on fire in the clash.

"Central Maluku District head Abdullah Tuasikal and I have just returned from the scene where we found the situation to be back under the local authorities' control," Widodo said.

He said hundreds of paramilitary police had been sent to the location of the clash to maintain security and prevent further or bigger violence at the border of the two villages.

Widodo said dozens of witnesses have been questioned but so far none of perpetrators of the violence has been arrested.

Maluku province was ravaged by sectarian fighting between 1999 and 2001 that left at least 6,000 people dead.

The Malino peace accords which were signed by Muslims and Christians in 2002 ended the three years of fighting, but sporadic violence continues to erupt. (*)