President's Meet Ulemas To Resolve Sampang Conflict

Sampang (Antara Bali) - Presidential Advisory Council (Wantimpres) members met with ulemas and government officials of Sampang district here on Wednesday, in an effort to resolve the issues that led to communal conflicts in the area.

"The meeting is being held so the presidential advisory council members can learn in detail about the problems that the conflicting parties in the area have with each other," Sampang district administration spokesman Khaironi Ferdiansyah said.

On August 26, some Shiite members in Nanggernang, Sampang, were attacked in an incident that left two dead and many injured.

There were some 1,000 attackers involved, who were carrying sharp weapons, while the number of police personnel was only 160, in addition to two companies of military personnel from Battalion 500/R, Sampang District Military Command (Kodim).

An Islamic leader recently stated that the conflict in Sampang was not between Nahdlatul Ulama (Sunnis) members and Shiites.

"It was purely criminal and was not a clash between Nahdlatul Ulama members and Shiite followers. It was between two brothers who fought for power," the chief of Nahdlatul Ulama organization, Said Aqil Siraj, said after meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.(IGT)