“This kind of behaviour is not acceptable in our country. It is a result of people not being able to control their emotions. We are now working on it this time and hopefully the villages will meet up again next Monday to discuss and solve the problem until everything is again smooth” – Asi Semisi BlakelockA riot that could have ended in bloodshed was resolved peacefully as Moata’a and Lauli’i matai acted quickly to diffuse the situation yesterday.Eyewitnesses on the ground said what started with the Moata’a youth throwing rocks at Lauli’i’s bus early yesterday morning, erupted into people taking to the streets armed with knives, kerosene, metal bars and rocks.An unnamed officer on the scene confirmed the incident while bystanders placed the weapons in the hands of the Moata’a youth.The officer, who requested to remain unnamed for fear of repercussions from his superiors, said once Police arrived on the scene, they tried in vain to calm the situation.However, he said the youths ignored them.They continued to throw stones. The situation escalated and it became increasingly dangerous for pedestrians and people driving by in their vehicles.The officer said it was then the Police set up a roadblock to try and wrestle control of the incident, allowing only the chiefs from Lauli’i and Moata’a into the area to engage in dialogue in a bid to settle the conflict. He said the roadblock stretched from the four corners at Matautu towards the Fagali’i Bridge.“We didn’t allow the youths, women and children of Lauli’i to walk on Moata’a land for their own protection,” he said. “Luckily the chiefs from both villages calmed the situation down so as not to cause a bigger riot.”Lauli’i matai, Fuamotu Samoa said yesterday’s incident followed on from an earlier incident.He said last weekend a fight erupted between the two villages at Apia Park resulting in a matai from his village getting injured.Fuamotu alleged yesterdays riot was instigated by someone from the Moata’a village who threw stones at a bus from Lauli’i.“This is how the stone throwing fight started,” he said.