SINGARAJA

Buleleng Police have arrested three men over house burnings at Lemukih, the Buleleng village where traditional residents and settlers have had a violent confrontation lasting months over contested land title and buildings.

The arrests follow two weeks of investigation — which police describe as intensive — after the latest outbreak of violence, last month, in which several houses were burned, one man was shot with an air rifle, and hundreds of villages fled to relatives in neighbouring communities saying they feared for their safety.

Police named the three arrested on suspicion of arson as Gede Santiasa, 44; Suarmiasa Lemer, 22; and Kadek Adi Putra, 21. They were detained last Saturday and are in the holding cell at Buleleng Police headquarters in Singaraja. Four other men have been questioned as witnesses and police say they want to interview a total of 12 men.

Buleleng Police spokesman I Nyoman Sukasena appealed to Lemukih residents to come forward with any other evidence they might have.

Five hundred police, including riot police from Denpasar and Gilimanuk, were sent to Lemukih last month when the “war” flared again.