Clashes between Papuans claim three lives<\/p>\n
Netty Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua<\/p>\n
Clashes between Papuans for and against the formation of Central
\nIrian Jaya province -- that started on Saturday -- have killed
\nthree people and injured more than 50 others, hospital staff said
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Two of the dead, identified as Jemi Kibak and Teris Murib were
\nopponents of the new province, while the other, a supporter was
\nidentified as Tinus Mom.<\/p>\n
The latest fatality, Teris, died late on Monday -- in Mitra
\nSejahtera Hospital, Jayapura -- after being in a coma caused by
\nchest injuries, according to information obtained by the Jakarta
\nPost on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
More than 50 victims of the clash have been treated and
\nreleased from the hospital, but two still remain.<\/p>\n
No new fighting was reported on Tuesday morning but the
\nsituation -- particularly in the provincial capital, Jayapura,
\nand the new province's capital of Timika -- was still tense.<\/p>\n
The situation in Timika was gradually becoming under control,
\nwith the gubernatorial office of Central Irian Jaya to remain the
\nadministrative office of the new province.<\/p>\n
The rival camps were separated by police, with supporters of
\nthe new province located at SP II area and opponents, at Kwamki
\nBaru village.<\/p>\n
Business activities were running normally, but government
\noffices near to the gubernatorial office were closed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo told the Post that
\nhe and Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Daud Sihombing had
\napproached the rival camps to hold dialog to ease the tension.<\/p>\n
Budi said, he had deployed additional police officers in
\nanticipation of the situation flaring up again in a few days.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, thousands of opponents of the new province --
\nmostly tribesmen from mountainous areas, armed with bows and
\narrows and spears -- gathered in the town calling for revenge,
\nlocal rights activist John Haluk said, as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
About 300 members of the supporting camp converged in another
\narea, according to Haluk, from the Amungme Tribal Institute.<\/p>\n
He said, the tribesmen \"want to avenge the death of their two
\nmen. They said that they will not rest until a second man from
\nthe opposing camp is killed.\"<\/p>\n
\"So far, we have been able to call on them (the tribesmen) to
\nrestrain themselves,\" Haluk added.<\/p>\n
Haluk urged Home Minister Hari Sabarno to visit Timika to see
\nthe situation for himself.<\/p>\n
He said Papuans opposing the new province were actually
\nindigenous people, while those supporting it were migrants.<\/p>\n
Reverend Socrates Sofyan Nyoman regretted the clashes, saying
\nthe government should listen to what the Papuan people really
\nwanted .<\/p>\n
\"The creation of the new province is only the intention of the
\ncentral government without listening to the true desires of
\nPapuans, thus triggering the bloody clashes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The central government says the purpose of dividing Papua is
\nto improve administration in the mountainous 411,000-square-
\nkilometer (158,700 square mile) territory, which has a population
\nof more than two million.<\/p>\n
Critics say the real aim is to lessen support for the long-
\nrunning separatist movement.<\/p>\n
Timika is near the giant gold and copper mine operated by U.S.
\nfirm Freeport McMoRan.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has faced sporadic low-level armed separatist
\nrevolt, along with peaceful pressure for independence, since it
\ntook control of Papua in 1963 from Dutch colonialists.<\/p>",
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