IN Mamasa, West Sulawesi province (formerly a regency in South Sulawesi), dozens of homes recently went up in flames, causing thousands to become instant refugees, facing possible starvation and even death. It is a conflict that is entirely caused by negligent people in both the executive and legislative branches of government in Jakarta.

It started with an attempt to divide the Polewali Mamasa (Polmas) Regency. The mountainous region was t