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Clash between villagers in Irian Jaya under control

Source
Antara - January 29, 1997

Jayapura, Irian Jaya – The two-day clash between residents of two villages near Tembagapura, Timika, Irian Jaya, which claimed five lives and injured scores of others, is now under control, a military officer said.

Chief of the Trikora military command, Maj Gen Johny Lumintang, said the clash started Sunday after a man, a resident of Banthi village, was caught having sex with the spouse of an Utikini villager.

Utikini villagers protested and demanded compensation, which was rejected by Banthi villagers, leading to the clash.

Lumintang said five people were killed and 20 others injured in the clash.

To prevent the incident from recurring, social leaders of the two villages held talks on Tuesday before Col G Manurung of the Army Strategic Command's (Kostrad) infantry zone in Mimika district, he said.

Timika is the site of the giant gold and copper mining company, PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of the US-based Freeport McMoRan. Its mining operations cover a 26,400 sq km area.

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