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.