Timika tribal clash leaves two dead

INDONESIA: Two groups of people from different tribes in Papua -- the Damal and the Nduga -- clashed on Saturday on the outskirts of the town of Timika, leaving at least two dead and more than 43 injured.

The two fatalities were identified as Pandinam Alom, 20 and Junar Murib, 25, who were shot with arrows, both in the neck. It was unclear which tribe they came from.

The melee is believed to stem from a family dispute over a month ago, when Marthinus Murib from the Damal tribe was allegedly shot with an arrow by a man identified only as Jimmy from the rival Nduga tribe, according to Lt. Col. H. Siburian, the chief of Mimika military district command, which covers Timika town and its surroundings. Timika is on the south coast of Papua in the disputed Central Irian Jaya province.

-- JP