Jakarta – At least six people had been killed as tribal clashes in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya entered a second day yesterday, local sources said.

"War broke out again this morning, fiercer than yesterday, and three people have already been killed, shot by arrows," said Mr Tom Beanal, head of the Institute for the Amungme Society from Timika, in Irian Jaya.

He said the clashes happened in Kwamki Lama, some 5 km north of Timika, a mining town in central Irian Jaya.

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

He added that he had confirmation that three people were killed on Thursday, although earlier reports had said four people died. Another three people were killed yesterday, he said.

The conflict is between members of four tribes in an area where stone age cultures still prevail alongside the high-tech mining operations of the Freeport gold and copper mines near Timika.

Mr Beanal and another resident said police and soldiers were near the area of the clash but had not intervened.

The Timika police could not be reached for comment immediately.

Mr 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 on Thursday morning and a young man trying to calm the conflict was killed, angering the Nduga and Dhani Laga tribes, Mr Beanal said.

The series of tribal clashes is the second in the Timika area this year. In January, clashes between hundreds of villagers from two tribes – the Utukini and the Banti – left six people dead and scores injured.

The January incident allegedly started over a soured love affair between members of the two tribes.

Timika is the site of the giant Freeport Indonesia gold and copper mines, a subsidiary of US-based Freeport McMoRan. It covers an area of 26,400 sq km.

The area has been the site of frequent unrest in recent years, often involving clashes between the indigenous communities and the authorities or Freeport workers. – AFP.