Dozens more people injured in Timika tribal violence

Dozens more people injured in Timika tribal violence

Nethy Dharma Somba, Timika

Fears a tribal conflict in Papua could end in a bloodbath grew on
Monday after 45 people were injured on the third day of fighting
on the outskirts of the southern town of Timika.

The conflict began at 7:30 a.m. when about 3,000 Nduga and
Damal tribesmen battled with spears and bows and arrows in the
Old Kwamki village, about 10 kilometers north of Timika, on the
south coast of Papua.

The clash ended three hours later, when hundreds of police
managed to separate the warring parties after earlier firing
warning shots over the crowd.

One police officer was injured in the melee, while the other
44 victims were tribesmen, bringing the total number of injured
in the conflict to 88. Two tribesmen died on the first day of
fighting, which had begun as a family feud.

After the clash, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Timbul Silaen
visited the warring leaders to try and mediate an end to the
violence.

Damal tribal leader Helminus Murib told Timbul the war would
end when casualties on both sides became equal.

Referring to the killing that allegedly started the conflict,
he said the Damal tribe had lost two people to the fighting while
their enemies, the Nduga, had only lost one.

Traditional laws regulating inter-tribal war had been upheld
for years in Papua and Indonesian justice could not be expected
to resolve the clash, he said.

Decky Murib from the Nduga tribe said his people were ready to
face the Damal, either in war or peace. "If they want to continue
the battle, we will be ready for them. Otherwise, we are ready
for peace -- if they are willing to make it happen," Decky said.

Helminus said he would discuss making peace with the family of
Mathius Murib, who was killed last month by a member of the Nduga
tribe.

Helminus said by Tuesday (today), the tribe would have made a
decision on the matter.

Timbul, meanwhile, called for the Nduga to compensate the
Damal for the death of Mathius -- with livestock, by hosting a
feast or providing other valuables. "We hope that (the Damal) can
come up with the best solution so that the conflict will wind
down," Timbul said.

The roots of the clash are controversial. Mathius died after
he was allegedly shot with an arrow by Jimmy Murib of the Nduga
tribe, in the Jayanti residential complex in Timika.

Jimmy allegedly killed Mathius, because he believed Mathius
had killed Jimmy's niece, Novi Kum.

However, police said Novi had committed suicide by drinking
poison.

The family of Mathius, backed by his tribe, did not accept the
verdict and attacked Jimmy and his tribesmen. The fighting
resulted in the death of Pendeman Alom of the Nduga and Jumar
Murib of the Damal.

Battles between tribes are not uncommon in Papua, Indonesia's
most easternmost province.