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