via Joyo News

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific

March 10, 2010

Timorese Refugees Involved In Indonesian Clash Over Mine

Text of report in English by Indonesian Tempo Interaktif website on 8 March

[Article by Yohanes Seo: 'Houses Torched Down in East Nusa Tenggara Clashes']

Several houses were torched and at least one vehicle was burnt in a clash between residents in Kupang, the seat of East Nusa Tenggara Province [Indonesia] on Sunday [07 Mar 2010], authorities said on Monday [08 Mar 2010].

The clash involved local residents in Oeltone Village in Fatuleu Sub- district, Kupang District, and refugees from East Timor, after an ex- East Timorese refugee went missing near a manganese mine in the region.

Competition for control over the manganese mine between locals is also suspected of fuelling the tension in the area.

Head of the Kupang District Police, Assistant Senior Commissioner Dadang Suhendar, said on Monday, "Temporary investigation results indicate the clash was sparked by the missing ... East Timor refugee near the manganese mine."

[There was] no report of injuries or fatalities in the incident.

The missing miner, police said, had not returned for two days, prompting members of the refugee group to come to the mine site and attack locals.

The police deployed one platoon of regular police, a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Unit, and army personnel to anticipate and prevent further clashes.

Authorities said traditional mining by locals in the region is not authorised by the local administration.

Source: Tempo Interaktif website, Jakarta, in English, 8 Mar 10

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