P

apua Police are currently pursuing the waimun, or commanders, of two warring factions in a conflict in Nduga regency that has left seven people dead.

'€œThe waimun from both groups must be arrested or else they will still be able to give orders to resume fighting. Their arrest will also end the conflict,'€ Papua Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said in Jayapura on Friday.

Waterpauw cited the dispute in Puncak regency which had held up the regency election for five years. The Puncak conflict, which claimed the lives of some 50 people, involved the supporters of candidates contesting the election.

'€œPapua Police detained the respective commanders, who were candidates,'€ said Waterpauw.

'€œBoth of them then ordered their followers to stop the war so the regency election could be held. Now the regency has its own definitive regent and vice regent.'€

Waterpauw urged Nduga residents to get used to leaving legal disputes to the police to deal with and resolve, and not to resort to traditional methods that resulted in a spiral of conflict and revenge.

He said it was difficult to find witnesses to the stabbing of the Nduga regency administration'€™s general affairs bureau head, Yulius Gwijangge, on March 23.

'€œIf someone could provide information it would make investigating the case easier, but people tend to settle murder cases by taking revenge, so the case has become aggravated and now involves a lot of people,'€ said Waterpauw.

The Wamena clash was sparked by plans to increase the number of districts and villages in Nduga.

Meanwhile, three suspects in the killing of Nduga regency councilor Eka Tabuni on Jl. Hawai Sentani, Jayapura regency, were charged on Thursday.