A tribe member was killed and at least eight more were injured when another clash erupted between two groups in Kwamki Lama, a regency in Mimika, Papua, on Tuesday.
Albert Mom died after being treated at Mitra Masyarakat Hospital.
Albert was one of nine people injured in the clash. More than 14 people have been injured since the clash on Monday.
The Tuesday clash occurred as Albert’s family prepared to cremate his body.
Local police intervened in the fight, attempting to broker peace between the warring groups.
The conflict between the upper and lower groups in the village is still continuing.
Dozens of police officers were deployed to prevent the conflict from spreading to other areas.
The situation in the village is still tense.
Deputy Mimika Police chief Comr. Jeremias Rontini said Monday the conflict erupted due to unpaid compensation demanded by the downstream village for a rape that was allegedly committed by a man from the upstream village six months ago.
The upstream group earlier promised to pay compensation of Rp 200 million (US$20,000). The group had paid the compensation, but the rival group reportedly retaliated by raping a women from the upper group.
The upper group then demanded compensation of Rp 100 million from the lower group. The first group attacked the latter after they failed to pay the compensation.
Clashes between groups are rampant in Mimika, home to one of the world’s richest gold mines. A protracted conflict killed 18 people in 2006. Another conflict between groups in Kwamki Lama claimed eight lives in 2007.
From 2008 to 2009, there were no reports of clashes between the groups as local leaders mediated with the warring groups to make peace.
They even constructed “a statue of peace” to commemorate the peace deal.
Timika is home to seven native Papuan tribes.
Mimika Legislative Council acting speaker Trifena Tinal urged the police to take action according to the law. “All the problems in Mimika should be solved according to the law,” Trifena told reporters
on Tuesday.
He said all groups in Timika had earlier agreed to solve the problems through existing laws.
“The groups have built a peace statue and agreed to settle the problem through the law.”
He said the council would coordinate with the police to help settle the fight between the two warring groups in Kwamki Lama.
“All groups in Timika should cooperate and work hard to stop the clash,” he said.
