Murder sparks rampage by Lamongan migrants in Timika

Murder sparks rampage by Lamongan migrants in Timika

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

A group of migrants from Lamongan, East Java, went on a rampage
on Tuesday night in Timika, Papua, after another Lamongan
migrant, Ali Achmad Imron, was stabbed to death earlier in the
day.

The situation was tense in the city on Tuesday night as a
group made up of dozens of Lamongan migrants vandalized and
stoned buildings and houses belonging to the Madurese community
in Timika city.

Most people stayed indoors for fear of being caught up in the
violence, said Marthen, a Timika resident. "The city streets were
deserted last night. Only police and military personnel were out
standing guard along the city's main thoroughfares," added
Marthen later on Wednesday.

The incident began on Tuesday at 7 p.m when one Syahroni, 19,
who has been arrested for murder, saw Ali Achmad Imron, 39, from
Lamongan, chatting to his aunt, Maimunah, in the latter's house.

Syahroni became angry as there were rumors circulating that
Ali and Maimunah were having an affair. A barber, Syahroni went
to his work place next door and returned with a large knife.

He then dragged Ali out onto the veranda of his aunt's house
before fatally stabbing him, said Adj. Sr. Comr. Paulus
Waterpauw, the chief of the Mimika Police, who are responsible
for security in Timika city.

Shortly after they found out about the incident, dozens of
Ali's acquaintances from Lamongan ran amok, attacking every house
or building belonging to Madurese people. One house, two barber
shops and two simple restaurants belonging to Madurese were badly
damaged, said Waterpauw.

Waterpauw said that the police had arrested Syahroni, who has
being charged with murder. Meanwhile, the remains of Ali have
been flown to Lamongan for burial.

Waterpauw said that the police had organized a meeting between
the leaders of the Lamongan and Madurese communities in the city,
and the leaders had agreed that the case should be resolved
through the legal process. The situation in Timika had returned
to normal on Wednesday, said Waterpauw.

Timika is the commercial hub and busiest city in Papua,
Indonesia's easternmost province. Most Lamongan and Madurese
migrants, whose exact number is unknown, work as blue collar
workers in the city. Others run simple restaurants or barber
shops.