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Once again communal violence has reared its ugly head in Indonesia. This time, at least 83 houses were burned down following a previously trivial dispute between members of two villages in Lampung. The rapid development and sudden eruption of the violence also took us by surprise. Once again, we ask ourselves why?

The violence was apparently sparked by a dispute over a refusal to pay a Rp 1,000 (11 cents) motorcycle parking fee at a local market. The conflict involved two residents of two villages, which as it happened were predominantly inhabited by different ethnic groups. The argument quickly degenerated into mob violence when angry members of one group attacked a settlement of the other, setting fire to buildings and houses. There were unconfirmed reports of injuries but no fatalities so far.

Why is it that communal and ethnic violence is so prevalent in this country? Why do small trivial disputes erupt with such fury? More importantly, what can be done to prevent such violence in the future?

It is obvious to all that the incident that triggered the violence was only the spark that ignited the fire. As in similar incidents of mass communal violence, there must have already been tension simmering beneath the surface. Without such underlying causes, it would be illogical that such a small difference could develop with such fury and speed into the communal violence that took place.

It is true that hundreds of police and military personnel were quickly deployed to the scene and managed to prevent the violence from spreading further. But authorities should not stop there.

Finding solutions is critical for the future of the nation. All countries, including developed ones, have social fissures that erupt once in a while, but not with such frequency as Indonesia. We must find a way to mitigate the factors that are responsible for such violence.

If the causes are economic disparity, stronger growth through open markets may be a solution. If more people have a stake in the economy, they are less likely to risk conflict that could disrupt their livelihoods. This is a critical point and should be reviewed seriously.

But while we search for long-term solutions, it is imperative that the police restore order and security in the city so that its residents can resume their normal routines.