T

he Balinese transmigrants in Balinuraga and Sidoreno villages and the local residents of Agom village in South Lampung regency had forged a peace pact late on Sunday after a deadly communal conflict in late October.

But the clash may not be the last, according to leading figures from both communities.

Pangikhan Naga Bringsang, a respected local Lampung leader, said that the recent conflict between the villages might evolve into a wider clash.

“We as natives of Lampung won’t stand still and let our brothers fight a battle alone,” Pangikhan said during a meeting with other respected local figures at Kelau village in Penengahan district on Saturday.

Lampung residents from other villages were also involved in the clash due to a local teaching called piil, a philosophy that places great emphasis on ethnic pride and self-esteem, according to Pangikhan.

Cultural observer Isbedy Setiawan Z.S. described piil as an ethos of “no retreat”, where native Lampung residents would refuse to allow any perceived slight to their dignity.

Agom village chief Muchsin Syukur agreed with Pangikhan, saying that the mob that attacked the Balinese had included residents from other villages outside Agom.

“The attack did not only involve residents from Agom, but also those from surrounding villages who were bonded by a similar birthright,” Muchsin said. “They were also fed up with the Balinese.”

Balinese community leader Made Kindri, meanwhile, said that the potential for future conflict would always be present. “This is because such conflict has not been the first,” Kindri, said, referring to the clash between the Balinese in Napal village in Sidomulyo district and the Lampung communities of Kota Dalam village in January.

That clash was triggered by a dispute over the ownership of a parking lot. Sixty-three homes were torched.

Budi Sunantra, a resident of Napal whose house was destroyed in the clash, said that he had been surprised by the attack, because he felt that the Balinese community had no issues with the other local ethnic groups.

Budi, however, said that there had been a lack of communication between the Balinese in Napal and the local residents in of other villages.

“I admit that there’s a lack of silaturahmi [communal bonds] between us and them, including between our respective leading figures,” Budi said.

“That’s because it’ll be expensive to hold regular gatherings to strengthen the bonds between the Balinese and the natives.”

He also attributed to the lack of communication to the tendency of the Balinese to stay in close-knit neighborhoods. “The Balinese usually stay in one village such as Napal and Balinuraga,” Budi said. “The local residents, on the other hand, like to stay near the shore.”

According to Budi, the Balinese in South Lampung formed their own neighborhoods after they were moved to the regency under a government transmigration program in the 1960s.

“They initially put us in one place along with other migrants from Java,” he said. “But then the Balinese started to buy land from the Javanese. Therefore, villages like Napal and Balinuraga became like they are now: Balinese villages.”

There are at least four prominent Balinese villages in South Lampung: Napal, Balinuraga, Sidoreno and Sidomakmur.

Ismail, a 40-year-old resident of Agom, echoed Budi’s words on poor communication, saying that he had no clue about the Balinese in Balinuraga.

“I know nothing about them,” Ismail said. “Sure, they often come to Agom to buy young coconut leaves, but I never speak to them and they never speak back. I never visit Balinuraga either because it’s too far.”