3 Police Injured in Tribal Row in Papua

A violent tribal conflict between two groups in Kwamki Lama, a village in Mimika district in Papua, erupted again on Thursday, leaving three police officers injured a day after the killing of a resident.

The clash occurred following the attack on Kalelo Kogoya, a resident of Kampung Karang Senang, who was struck by 20 arrows allegedly released by a group from another village on Wednesday night. Dozens of people immediately gathered at the victim’s house, and went on guard, some with their traditional battle equipment.

On Thursday morning, one of the groups fired arrows at the police officers trying to secure the area, injuring Chief Brig. Kanisius on his chest and Brig. II Antar on his left hand, according to Mimika Police Chief Senior Adj. Commissioner M Sagi.

The two injured officers were taken to different hospitals, the Mitra Masyarakat Hospital and the Timika Regional Public Hospital, he said.

Earlier that day, an intelligence officer from the Mimika Police, Kanis Jehabut, was also shot by an arrow while his unit was conducting house-to-house searches in Kwamki Lama for weapons. Two residents were caught in possession of bows and arrows.

Despite the brawl, the situation in Kwamki Lama was in general still under control, Sagi said. About 60 police officers were mobilized to handle the conflict in Kwamki Lama, around 5 kilometers from Timika town, he added.

It was reported that both groups have been on standby in their respective areas since Thursday morning, equipped with bows and arrows, chopping knives and other sharp objects.

The clash on Thursday was the second round of a similar conflict in Kwamki Lama earlier this year.

In January, two groups from a single tribe were involved in a violent conflict that left at least three people killed and dozens injured.

According to Ferry Marisan of Elsham, a human rights group based in Papua, the origin of the conflict can be traced back as far as last year, when a woman from the Damal tribe was raped by someone who was also from the tribe. This split the tribe into two groups, causing a war within the tribe. The tribe, which was originally based in the mountains, brought the war to Kwamki Lama.

In January, the tribal clash was settled through a traditional ceremony. However, the warring tribe decided to stay in the village instead of returning to their own area.

Ferry said he suspected it was the group from the Damal tribe that committed the attack on Wednesday night. However, Ferry said this may not be a continuation of the January conflict because the victim was someone from a different tribe.

“I fear that the conflict has changed from an internal conflict within a tribe, into a conflict between tribes,” Ferry said.

Regarding the attacks on the police, Ferry explained that according to local tradition, when there is a tribal war, no third parties should meddle in the affair.

“That’s why [the police officers] were attacked,” he said.

Source: thejakartaglobe.com

Posted in: English,Human Rights,Military