Jayapura. At least 17 people were killed in a clash
between two groups of civilians in the district of Puncak Papua on
Sunday.
It was the first such incident in the newly established
district, which had been part of Puncak Jaya district. It is the
deadliest brawl to hit the restive province of Papua in recent years.
Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Wachyono said the brawl, which occurred
at about 7 a.m. in the district capital, Illaga, might have been caused
by political frictions.
Based on initial information, Wachyono
said, the clash occurred between supporters of Elvis Tabuni, the speaker
of the Puncak Papua legislative council, and supporters of Simon Alom,
who led the transitional process during the establishment of the
district.
“As a result of the brawl, 13 supporters of Elvis
Tabuni were killed and four people from Simon Alom’s side died,” he
said.
Puncak Papua is holding its first election this year and
both Elvis and Simon are said to be preparing to run for district head.
The
position has been vacant since May after the then-district head, Recky
Ambrauw, was arrested over allegations he falsified a gubernatorial
decree on his appointment to the position.
Wellem Wandik , chief
of the Puncak Jaya regional development agency, confirmed that a brawl
took place on Sunday but could not provide further details.
“I
am not in Puncak Papua, but according to reports I have received, yes
there was a brawl. That is all I know,” he said.
Wachyono said
dozens of people were badly injured and a number of houses, buildings
and vehicles were set on fire.
“The clash started in front of
the council office but the fighting continued and affected residential
areas,” he said.
Wachyono added that the police were struggling
to obtain more information on the brawl because of the remoteness of the
area and poor infrastructure.
The area is a one-hour flight
from the Papua capital, Jayapura, and is inaccessible by land. Charter
flight operators only fly once a week from Jayapura to Illaga.
The
police officer said that the best way to communicate with the area was
through satellite phones, which only a handful of people in the area
have.
“We received the news through the police’s SSB,” he said,
referring to a single-side band radio.
Wachyono said the police
had not been able to establish what had triggered the clash, or
determine the exact chronology of the incident.
On July 21, an
Indonesian solider was killed in a suspected ambush in Puncak Jaya.