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.