Markus Makur, Timika – Two rival groups engaged in a tribal war over the past two weeks in Kwamki Lama village in Mimika regency, Papua, held a traditional peace ceremony on Wednesday marked by the breaking of bows and arrows.
Among those attending the ceremony at the village's Kios Panjang market compound were Mimika Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Muhammad Sagi, Mimika Military Command chief Let. Col. Refrizal, Papua Police Mobile Brigade Unit commander Comr. Yustanto, Mimika Baru district head James Noldy Sumigar and a number of local figures.
The peace ritual commenced when hundreds of residents from the rival groups carried bows and arrows into the market compound.
After a brief prayer led by Rev. Melkianus Kum, four war chiefs from both sides stood under triangular bamboo poles and separated residents from both groups. The groups each brought in a pig and shot them dead with arrows, handing them over to their rivals.
War chiefs from each of the two groups later stood under the split bamboo poles indicating that both groups could cross over to the other side where the clash once took place.
The peak of the ceremony was marked with the breaking of the bows and arrows by both groups' war chiefs and followed by two gunshots to the air by Mimika Police chief Muhammad Sagi, which was followed by loud cheers by both sides.
War chiefs from the downstream group in Tuni Kama, Izak Murib, and Stefanus Kulla from the Upper group in Jalan Mambruk II, later signed the peace pact, which was witnessed by Sagi. The peace pact was also signed by witnesses from both sides.
Sagi responded positively to the peace initiative to end the dispute. "Today is the end of the conflict between residents. I hope that in the future Kwamki Lama residents could live in peace and harmony and carry out their daily activities normally and without any disturbances," Sagi addressed the crowd.
He urged every member of the community in Kwamki Lama to honor the peace agreement that had been reached.
Sagi said Mimika Police had posted personnel at the conflict location as part of their efforts to maintain security. Residents from the two groups shook hands and hugged each other after the ceremony.
The tribal war which broke out on Jan. 4 was sparked by a rape incident and payment of customary fines. The conflict claimed three lives and scores of others were injured. One of those killed was Isodorus Edoway, 13, a junior high school student at the YPPGI junior high school in Kwamki Lama.
Mimika legislative council speaker Trifena Tinal said she would urge the Mimika regency administration to realize development in Kwamki Lama.
She said social jealousy had taken place among the community in Kwamki Lama due to lack of attention from the Mimika regency administration, especially in development. "We will urge the Mimika administration to draft a local bylaw to form the Kwamki Lama district," she said.