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Police step up security in Timika after 6 killed
Crack down: Mimika Police check people for weapons at a check point in Timika, Papua, on Thursday
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Crack down:: Mimika Police check people for weapons at a check point in Timika, Papua, on Thursday. Police have seized several weapons, such as arrows, knives and swords during an operation to curb violence in Papua. (Antara/Spedy Paereng) (Antara/Spedy Paereng)
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span class="inline inline-center">Crack down: Mimika Police check people for weapons at a check point in Timika, Papua, on Thursday. Police have seized several weapons, such as arrows, knives and swords during an operation to curb violence in Papua. (Antara/Spedy Paereng)
With the deadly clashes between Dani tribesmen and migrants in Timika already having claimed six lives, the Papua Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) dispatched a joint team of 1,300 personnel on Thursday to prevent any further fatal incidents.
'We have evacuated migrants residing around the vicinity of [the home of Dani tribe chieftain] Korea Waker ['¦] The situation has gradually returned to normal,' Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Yotje Mende said in Jakarta on Thursday.
The clashes began on Tuesday following the death of Waker, 49, whose decapitated body was found floating in the Kali Merah River in Kampung Logpon-Pigapu on Monday evening.
Waker left his home on Aug. 8 but never returned. His family reported his disappearance to the police two weeks later. 'We found his badly decomposed body in the river. We handed over the remains to the family and offered an autopsy, but the family turned down the offer,' the police chief said.
According to Yotje, in an apparent retaliation for Waker's death, a group of suspected Dani tribesmen set fire to a house in Timika belonging to a migrant. Later the group attacked and killed five migrants.
The victims were identified as M. Said, 70, Noris Timang, 20, Muhammad Agung Kelkulat, 27, Indra, 17, and Alfin Duran, 40. The victims had suffered multiple arrow and stab wounds.
The death toll rose to six after the police recovered the remains of Otto Asso, 29, on Wednesday. Yotje suspects that migrants were behind Otto's murder.
'We are still investigating the motivation behind the attacks but our officers on the ground have said that these are solely retribution for the tribal chieftain's death,' he said.
National Police chief Gen. Sutarman urged residents of Timika not to be incited by rumors. 'If you come across problems or issues, please report it to us [the police] to avoid vigilantism ['¦] Sometimes provocation is used irresponsibly,' he said.
Papua Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw, who is leading the security operation, said the police were closely coordinating with Mimika Regent Anselmus Petrus Youw, the Cendrawasih Military Command, religious leaders and local figures in an effort to calm tensions among Timika residents.
In a coordination meeting on Thursday, Paulus said local figures had called on the security forces to provide protection for citizens and uphold the law.
'[During the meeting], I warned residents not to take the law into their own hands,' he said.
Paulus also pledged that the police would bring those responsible for the killings to justice. 'We will continue the investigations into crimes that occurred following Waker's death,' he said in Timika.
Saldi, a Timika resident, said that prior to the security operation, many local residents had armed themselves and stayed at home to prevent clashes.
'The situation has been calm because this morning the police conducted a weapons search but the schools are still closed,' he said.
Ina Parlina also contributed to the story.
