Tribal clashes leave three dead

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.