In a 1989 interview, Soeman stated that he was not sure of the conflict's source, but he suspected that his father, who was descended from a Mandailing king, felt as though his honour had been impugned.
Dalam sebuah wawancara 1989, Soeman menyatakan bahwa ia tidak tahu menahu sumber konflik tersebut, namun ia menduga bahwa ayahnya yang merupakan keturunan dari seorang raja Mandailing merasa seolah-olah kurang dihormati.