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Sectarian clash erupts in Irian Jaya

Source
Indonesian Observer - November 14, 2000

Jakarta – A massive clash broke out in Irian Jaya (West Papua) yesterday between transmigrants and natives. There were no immediate reports of any casualties, although there were many injuries. The violence occurred at the central market in Abepura subdistrict and lasted for at least one hour, Antara reported.

The transmigrants were from South Sulawesi and Java. Hundreds of natives attacked them with poisoned arrows, blowpipes, axes, stones and scythes. The settlers hid inside the market until four truckloads of Mobile Brigade (Brimob) police arrived from Jayapura city and stopped the unrest.

The incident halted school activities in the area. Students fled from their classrooms and ran away, ostensibly to go to their homes, but many were reported missing. Anxious transmigrant families were late yesterday waiting for news on the fate of their children, fearing they may have been hacked up and left on roads or in rivers.

Staff from the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) in Jayapura collected material evidence such as poisoned arrows, darts shot from blowpipes, axes, stones and scythes to be submitted to police as evidence.

It was the second brawl to occur at the market in three days. Five locals were seriously wounded in the first brawl on Saturday. They were identified as Thinus Daisev, Dani Kogoya, Alfonso, Zakarias and Othis Seserai. All were taken to Abepura Public Hospital.

The first clash broke out when transmigrants working at the market attacked the five locals and injured them with knives. The reason for the attack was unclear. But in retaliation for the attack, hundreds of natives armed with traditional weapons besieged the market complex.

Army Chief General Endriartono Sutarto yesterday said the government should immediately identify the main cause of the problems in Irian Jaya in order to prevent more unrest in the province.

He said the problems should be settled by both the government and the people. Sutarto was speaking after witnessing a ceremony in Jayapura marking the transfer of post of chief of the Trikora regional military command from Major General Albert Ingkiriwang to Major General Tonny A. Rompis.

We should sit down together at one table to discuss the Irian Jaya issue. Parties should not be boastful, or suspicious of one another, he said.

The four-star general urged the Irian Jaya administration to hold talks with the people, especially the Papua Council Presidium, which is seeking independence from Indonesia.

Sutarto admitted the people of Irian Jaya may want independence because they feel Jakarta has siphoned off their provinces mineral wealth and natural resources. He warned that the military would not sit back and watch if the situation in Irian Jaya becomes a threat to national unity.

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