Timika calm but tense amidst tight security<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Timika, in Irian Jaya's Mimika regency, remained
\nquiet but tense over the weekend as tight security blanketed the
\narea following an outbreak of violence in Harapan Kwamki Lama
\nvillage.<\/p>\n
Local witnesses said scores of army and police personnel were
\ndispatched to watch the town's main roads.<\/p>\n
Dozens of emergency security posts were also set up in the
\ntown.<\/p>\n
"All Irianese leaving the village for Timika will be searched
\nas they go through the check points, in case they bring weapons,"
\na resident said yesterday.<\/p>\n
No reports of new clashes were reported yesterday.<\/p>\n
Timika was tense Friday after two Ekari tribesmen were killed
\nwhen security officers tried to disperse a group of Kwamki Lama
\nvillagers protesting the earlier deaths of two tribesmen.<\/p>\n
The two victims -- Stevanus Pakeke, 23, shot in the head and
\nTimotius Koga, 21 shot in the stomach -- were among 200 mostly
\nEkari tribesman marching downtown to the local police station.<\/p>\n
They were demanding police investigate the deaths of two Ekari
\nhitchhikers who fell off a vehicle belonging to PT Freeport
\nIndonesia mining company Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The tension in Timika had calmed Saturday according to Antara,
\nwho quoted Mimika police precinct chief Lt. Col. Idrus Gassing as
\nsaying that the situation was under control.<\/p>\n
"It's business as usual now, no upheavals," Gassing was quoted
\nas saying after attending the funeral of the four Ekari
\ntribesmen.<\/p>\n
Also present at the security-tight funeral were Mimika
\nmilitary chief Lt. Col. Wilston P. Simanjuntak and Mimika Regent
\nO. Putereyauw.<\/p>\n
Gassing said the two who were shot dead were shot with rubber
\nbullets after they had attacked on-duty military officers with
\narrows and spears.<\/p>\n
Gassing said police were still investigating the two earlier
\ndeaths.<\/p>\n
Last week's violence erupted just days after local church
\nleaders warned that the disbursement of the one percent trust
\nfund given by PT Freeport to local tribes could spark jealousy
\nand tribal warfare.<\/p>\n
PT Freeport set up the plan, under which it gives one percent
\nof the company's annual earnings to the trust fund, after ethnic
\nviolence around Timika led to the deaths of 12 people last year.<\/p>\n
Jakarta-based spokesman for PT Freeport Indonesia, Ed
\nPressman, said last week that the company was aware of the
\nproblems with the funding mechanism, and that the company was
\nhoping that church leaders would be willing to help fix the
\nproblems. (aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/timika-calm-but-tense-amidst-tight-security-1447893297",
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