A clash between police and demonstrators broke out on Saturday claiming two lives when security officers tried to forcefully disperse the mob who had occupied the ferry port since December 20, 2011.
The mob who claimed to be members of anti-mining front occupied the port and demanded that the Bima district head lift a decision which allowed mining firm PT Sumber Mineral Nusantara to operate in the district, which they claimed it had damaged the environment.
Ferry activities that served passengers from Bima to East Nusa Tenggara have begun to return to normal, yet personnel from NTB`s police mobile brigade are still stationed to maintain peace at the port.
However, it was reported that the condition in Sumi village where residents who had occupied the port lived, was still tense.
Bima Police Chief said on Sunday that 54 people had been taken to custody in connection with the Saturday`s incident. "We are still questioning them," he added.
Bima district head Ferry Zulkarnaen said the Bima regional leadership forum had taken a decision to suspend the activities of mining in Lambu subdistrict.
It was earlier reported that police had detained 31 people in connection with the clash. The 31 people consisted of 25 adults and six children, spokesman of the National Police Insp. Gen. Saud Usman Nasution said on Saturday.
Three of the people, identified by their initials as H, A alias O and SY, were arrested on charges of inciting the clash, he said adding H had earlier been put on the West Nusa Tenggara police`s wanted list.
He said two people were killed in the clash. They were identified as Arief Rachman (18) and Syaiful (17).(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
