Bloody Clashes In Adonara NTT, Deputy Regent Agustinus 'Blusukan' Attempts To Mediate Through Kakan Keru Arin Baki Culture

East Flores Deputy Regent Agustinus Payong Boli (right) during a meeting with residents to mediate peace between residents (ANTARA)

NTT - Deputy Regent of East Flores (Flotim), East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Agustinus Payong Boli said the local district government continued to mediate for peace between residents who clashed on Adonara Island.

"We have carried out the initial stage of peace mediation with me directly visiting the two groups of residents after the clashes that broke out on Thursday, October 7 yesterday," he said when contacted from Kupang, Antara, Friday, October 8.

He said this was related to efforts to handle clashes between residents of Narasaosina Village and Wotan in Waiwerang Village, East Adonara District, Adonara Island, East Flores Regency.

Agustinus said efforts to mediate had begun with a direct visit accompanied by the leadership of the TNI and Polri in the local area to meet two groups of residents after the conflict subsided.

During the visit, he said, persuasive efforts were carried out by using a philosophical approach to the culture of the Lamaholot tribe, namely kakan keru arin baki, which means that all members of the Lamaholot tribe are brothers and sisters and the villages are brothers and sisters.

"This approach can touch people's hearts and some cry sadly and ask for an accelerated peace because they want to live in peace and comfort," he said.

Agustinus further explained that from the dialogue with the conflicting parties, a mutual understanding was obtained so that his party decided on several steps, namely the choice of conflict resolution through peace mediation in the Lamaholot culture.

In addition, he said, for the time being students from Narasaosina Village who attend school in the Wotan area or Waiwerang Village are closed or running schools online.

He explained that adult male residents on both sides have also been advised to reduce mobility to the Waiwerang market or shopping area and if they have to go to the market, they are prohibited from carrying any type of sharp weapon.

"The government will also take care of the costs of the people who were injured as a result of being hit by arrows in the clashes," he said.

Agustinus hopes that the mediation efforts that have been going on will eventually be able to reconcile the residents of the two conflicting parties so that people's lives can continue safely and smoothly.