Five killed in Timika clash

TIMIKA, Irian Jaya (JP): Five people were killed in a clash between native Irianese and migrants in the Irian Jaya regency of Timika, an officer said on Thursday.

Sgt. Stefanus of the Timika Police told The Jakarta Post the number of casualties could rise once the police completed their investigation.

Stefanus also said the police had yet to determine the cause of the clash.

"What we have now is just a provisional report. The number of victims could be more than what we have been told," Stefanus said via telephone.

Stefanus said that at around 8:30 p.m. local time, a fight broke out involving migrants and native Irianese, during which two Irianese were wounded.

Shortly after this, the Irianese retaliated by killing five migrants with their traditional bows and arrows.

The two wounded Irianese were believed to have received stab wounds from knives.

All of the victims were taken to a private hospital belonging to mining company PT Freeport Indonesia shortly after the clash ended, and their identities have yet to be established.

The incident caused a riot which resulted in a public market and bus terminal being burned.

Personnel from the Indonesian Military and the police were deployed to the scene and fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.

As of late Thursday, the area remained tense, with no vehicles on the streets except those belonging to security personnel.

Both migrants and native Irianese were reportedly on the alert for possible renewed clashes.

Meanwhile, the Amungme Tribal Consultative Institution summoned local figures to a meeting in an effort to prevent the situation from worsening.

The institution said the two native Irianese wounded in the clash were from the Nduga and Dani tribes.

A man identified as Leo Pogolamon, 27, also was reported to have suffered gunshot wounds when security personnel opened fire to disperse the crowd, the institution reported. (34/emf)