Papuans reach peace accord to end bloody tribal conflict

Nethy Dharma Somba, Timika

Two conflicting tribes, the Damal and Nduga, in Papua province have agreed to end the bloody clashes that have killed two tribesmen on each side.

The agreement was reached during a traditional ceremony in Old Kwamki village in the remote town of Timika on Tuesday, during which the tribespeople sacrificed two pigs, broke the string of a bow and fired two salvos of shots into the air.

The peace accord was witnessed by Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Paulus Waterpauw.

One sacrificial pig was presented by each tribe, and both were killed by arrows in the space between two wooden poles in the traditional manner.

After the two pigs were dead, warriors from the two sides took turns walking between the two poles, a sign that there was no more enmity between the two groups.

They returned to their respective localities after swapping the sacrificed pigs, denoting that they had forgiven one another.

The peace accord was signed by representatives from both sides.

Besides causing the deaths of four warriors, the clashes also left at least 123 people injured. Peace was only agreed after the death toll from both sides had become equal -- two from each side.

The two dead warriors from the Nduga tribe were Pedimen Alom and Unum Alom. Both were killed by arrows.

The dead on the Damal side were Mathius Murib, who was killed by Jimmy Murib on May 20 at the SP 13 Jayanti complex, and Jumar Murib, who was killed on June 5.

The death of Mathius Murib was believed to have triggered the conflict as his murderer, Jimmy, was from the Nduga tribe.

The peace ceremony began with the war chiefs from the two groups parading in full war regalia into the middle of the field.

Both sides took turns running from one end of the field to the other while yelling -- which is a traditional sign of peace.

Security personnel from the Mimika Police and the military kept the two groups from coming into direct contact.

The Damal tribe was represented at the meeting by Pagugingme Murib, a relative of the dead victims on the Damal side, and Simeon Allom, who lost two of his family members in the conflict, from the Nduga side.

Both showed remorse and expressed their desire for an end to the conflict. "Don't let this war lead to the deaths of any more of our brothers as they represent the next generations of our tribes," said Pagugingme.

"This conflict has lead to the deaths of two of my brothers and that is why I want peace. We have lost kinsmen as a result of this conflict," said Simeon.