Six hurt as police, civilians clash

Six hurt as police, civilians clash

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Four policemen and two civilians were
injured in a clash on Sunday afternoon in the town of Merauke,
about 600 kilometers south of here.

It occurred at about 1 p.m. local time in the Kuda Mati area.

Aloysius Renwariu of the Institute for Policy Research and
Advocacy (ELSAM) said the policemen suffered leg injuries when
the locals attacked with traditional bows and arrows.

The civilians reportedly suffered minor gunshot wounds.

Coordinator of the Papua Task Force in Merauke Nikolas Yem
claimed the clash was caused by an incident at 2 a.m. at a
transmigration area near the town.

He said a checkpoint set up by the task force was rammed by a
Kijang van whose driver refused to be inspected. A shot was fired
from the vehicle as it sped away.

Nikolas said the checkpoints were set up at the request of
local figures to curb late-night robberies.

Nikolas claimed that three truckloads of police then arrived
at 11 a.m. and dismantled the structure. The police trucks were
then blocked by locals in Merauke and the clash ensued.

Police had no comment on the incident as of Sunday
evening.(eba)