Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – A regional election clash has once again erupted during campaigning for a local regent election in Papua, causing the death of a supporter of one of the election candidates in Tolikara regency.

The victim, identified as Yusuf Yikwa, 38, died on Saturday after being hit by an arrow in his chest.

The clash occurred after supporters of candidate pair John Tabo – Hedi Suyanto came upon supporters of another pair of candidates, Usman Wanimbo and Amos Yikwa.

The two groups of rival supporters began to taunt each other in the regency's downtown area. Wanimbo – Yikwa's supporters shouted, "The Golkar [Party] will lose! The Democratic Party will win!"

"The shouts were answered by supporters of the Tabo-Suyatno pairing, with, 'Golkar will win and the Democratic Party will lose.' This was immediately followed by a brawl that broke out between them, including throwing stones and rocks at each other and firing arrows," Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Wachyono said in Jayapura on Tuesday.

Wachyono said that besides causing the death of one of the supporters, the clash also injured two others – Yermias Kogoya, 18, and Pioga Wanimbo, 16. The mass fight also caused damage to the Karubaga district office and the official residence of Tolikara's acting regent.

"Calm has now returned to the area. The two groups of supporters have been approached and encouraged not to repeat such actions because outbreaks like this could severely affect the regional election process in Tolikara. Nevertheless, security officers are continuing to investigate the cause of death of Yusuf Yikwa," Wachyono said.

The regional election for the 2012-2017 period in Tolikara is scheduled to take place on Feb. 17, 2012. Two pairs of candidates are running in the election: The incumbent regent Tabo and his running mate Suyatno, and the pairing of Wanimbo – Yikwa.

Nineteen people were killed and dozens injured when supporters of rival candidates in a local regent election clashed in Ilaga district in Puncak regency, Papua, in July last year.

The groups attacked each other outside the local legislative council building, using a variety of weapons, including rocks and bows and arrows, according to police reports.

The election in Puncak, which at the time of the clash was still registering the candidates, was immediately postponed for an unspecified period.