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.