Five injured in brawl

WAMENA, Irian Jaya: Five residents were severely injured in a brawl at Jibama market in Wamena district, Jayawijaya regency, on Friday afternoon.

Antara reported the five were being treated at Wamena Hospital. The injured were identified as Bartol Itlay, 50; Benius Wenda, 42; Mail Wenda, 18; Albert Siep, 17; and Anton Heluka, 17. Four of the residents were injured by sharp weapons, while the fifth was hit by a blunt object.

Jayawijaya Police deputy chief Capt. Gono Suhardi confirmed the incident, and said three people had been detained for questioning.

Gono said the brawl began after nine-year-old Tenius Wenda's parked bicycle fell on top of a man who was sitting nearby. The man struck Tenius, who reported the incident to his family.

"Members of Tenius' family then came to attack the young man ... and the brawl spread," Gono said.

Thousands of vendors and shoppers in the marketplace fled in panic as those involved in the brawl employed machetes, rocks and other weapons.

A number of people took advantage of the melee to loot some of the shops in the market, Weapaut village tribal chief Weneule Huby said.

Gono denied Huby's account, saying the police arrived in time to prevent any looting and to stop the brawl from spreading. (swe)