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angli regency, some 70 kilometers northwest of Denpasar, was quiet and tense following a riot on Tuesday that involved thousands of residents from Songan and Banjar Kawan villages, resulting in the death of one man and injuries to eight other people.

The riot was triggered by student brawls between high school students living in both villages. The students reported the incidents to their respective families, causing furor between the two villages.

Residents from Songan marched to their opponents’ village in Banjar Kawan and launched an attack at 1 p.m., which escalated into a riot that lasted until 10 p.m. Villagers from Songan were angry that students from their village had been bullied and wounded by youth from Banjar Kawan.

Both groups got involved in an angry riot, killing a 50 year old man Jero Selamet, whose body was immediately rushed to Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar, for a forensic examination.

Bali Police spokesman, Sr. Com Hariadi, told reporters Wednesday that the riot was a serious social disturbance as it involved thousands of people and left a man dead. Participants were carrying various traditional weapons, including bamboo sticks, arrows, sickles, swords, kris or traditional short daggers, and air rifles, Hariadi explained.

“They have committed violent actions that have hurt each other’s group. Police are now questioning 20 witnesses and have arrested three residents, who provoked the violence. I am sure the number of suspects will increase in the next few hours,” he said.

Bangli is home to many natural wonders, including Kintamani resort, Mount Batur and Lake Batur. After the riot, groups of domestic and foreign visitors still flocked to the regency’s tourist sites, mostly unaware of the disturbances earlier.

Ketut Putranatha, owner of the Lake View Hotel and Restaurant, said that overall, visitors still enjoyed their holidays in the regency.

“We have not yet received any requests from our guests to check-out early because of this incident,” exclaimed Putranatha, who is also chairman of the Bangli chapter of the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI).

Ida Bagus Kade Subhiksu, head of the province’s tourism office, has called on the police and the local authority to resolve the problem. “Security and health issues have always been the number one concern for overseas tourists.

“We need to convince [them] that Bali is safe,” Subhiksu said, adding that he had not yet received any inquiry about this incident from foreign consulates or from people in Bali’s tourist industry.

Meanwhile, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika said he was angry and ashamed of this incident.

“I was so concerned that such a trivial case — student brawls — could trigger a mass riot. It is so shameful. Please be grown-up, residents!” the governor pointed out, adding that Bali was currently hosting an international conference with ministers and high-ranking diplomats and officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in Nusa Dua, Bali.

“Bali is currently in the international spotlight. All stakeholders in the society, including religious and community leaders, must find the root cause of this communal violence,” the governor said.

To secure Bangli, and to anticipate any possible riot, police have employed 500 officers. On Wednesday, most of the villages in the regency had no electricity, and schools and offices were still closed.