Tribal clashes leave three dead

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Three people have been killed and five others injured in tribal clashes which started Thursday in Kwamki Lama village, north of mining town Timika, Antara reported yesterday.

The news agency quoted local sources at the Trikora regional military command confirming the clashes and the number of casualties. However, the identity of those who died have yet to be established.

Quoting another source, AFP said that the number who died was six.

"War broke out again this morning, fiercer than yesterday and three people have already been killed, shot by arrows," the foreign news agency quoted Tom Beanal, who heads the Institute for the Amungme Society, from Timika, Irian Jaya.

He said the violence involved more than 1,000 people, many armed with bows and arrows, spears, clubs and machetes.

Beanal said he had confirmation three people were killed on Thursday, although earlier reports said four people died. Another three people were killed Friday, he said.

The conflict involved members of four tribes. Beanal has said the fight was sparked by a drunkard who harassed and demanded money from a village head on Wednesday. The village head was beaten when he could not give any money.

Members of the Damal and Amungme tribe, angered by the report, pelted the house of the drunkard Thursday morning and a young man trying to calm the conflict was instead killed, angering the Nduga and Dhani Laga tribes, Beanal said.