By Bernama
Jakarta : Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Gen. Djoko Santoso said the TNI had not yet decided to send additional troops to Atambua after the outbreak of a communal conflict in the capital of Belu district, East Nusa Tenggara, on last Sunday.
“The situation there is still under control. The number of troops already deployed there is enough. This is a horizontal conflict which involves a non-fundamental social matter,” ANTARA quoted the TNI chief as saying here on Tuesday.
He said the conflict which took one life was only a communal incident, and it had been handled by military and police personnel. Efforts had been made to prevent the incident from escalating.
“Efforts to settle the incident and to mediate between the conflicting parties for a reconciliation have been made,” Djoko Santoso said.
The communal conflict broke out during the Easter Day observance on Sunday following the killing of ex-East Timorese refugee Paulino Lopes by a drunken youth.