Five killed in Timika clash

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)