Fear of retaliation following clash

Fear of retaliation following clash

JAYAPURA: Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numberi has asked the
North Sulawesi administration to protect around 4,000 Irianese
living in and around Manado following a fight between people from
the two provinces in a remote area of Irian Jaya.

He said he feared retaliation following clashes between people
from North Sulawesi's Sangir Talaud ethnic group and residents of
Biak and Dani in a gold mining area near Topo in Uwapa district,
Nabire regency, on Aug. 9 and Aug. 10.

Antara reported that Irian Jaya's deputy governor, Herman
Monim, acknowledged on Wednesday that 12 died in the clash, which
was apparently triggered by an argument over mining territory.

Earlier reports said only 11 were killed -- two Irianese and
nine Sangir Talaud people. Three thousand North Sulawesians
residing in Nabire regency fled home in the aftermath of the
clash. Monim said "alcohol and social jealousy" had contributed
to the incident which spread to Nabire town.

Governor Freddy called on North Sulawesi Governor E.E.
Mangindaan and his deputy, Col. (ret) Y.B. Wenas, to protect
Irianese living in North Sulawesi. Mangindaan is a former head of
the Trikora Regional Military Command which oversees Irian Jaya
and Wenas is a former regent of Jayawijaya.