Another tribal war broke out in Kwamki Lama, Timika, Mimika regency, Papua, on Wednesday, raising concerns that the local administration had done nothing to prevent it after previous clashes.
The clash, in which the warring parties used traditional weapons including bows and arrows, was reportedly triggered by the alleged murders of two people on Monday and Tuesday.
Papua Police public relations head Adj. Sr. Comr. I Gede Sumerta Jaya said that Hendrikus Beanal of the Amungme tribe was found dead from arrow and stab wounds on Monday. The following day, Pendius Tabuni of the Dani tribe was found dead from arrow wounds.
Sumerta said the alleged murder of Hendrikus may have been triggered by the Dani people’s suspicion that he was spying on them. “He was on public transportation when somebody shouted that a spy was among them,” he said.
Legislator Dias Gwijangge of the Papua electoral district expressed regret that clashes between tribes in Mimika continued to occur.
“I have the impression that they just let people kill each other. There has been no efforts by security personnel or the local administration to find a solution to the problem,” he said.
Responding, Sumerta said that precautionary measures had been conducted by, among other things, conducting raids against sharp weapons in downtown areas.