TRIBAL CHIEFS ASKED TO HELP SETTLE CONFLICT IN PAPUA

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 4 (ANTARA) - Police will invite tribal chiefs of the conflicting parties to help cool down and overcome recent communal clashes which claimed the lives of 19 people in Ilaga, Puncak district, Papua.          "The situation in Papaa has been conducive. In Puncak Jaya, we are inviting tribal chiefs to sit together," National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said here on Wednesday.          According to Anton, the security situation in Ilaga, Puncak district, Papua, is returning to normal after unrest. Therefore,  police are planning to invite customary leaders as part of their efforts to prevent certain conflicting parties from taking revenge against their enemies.          "With the meeting among the tribal chiefs we hope they would not attack with each other. Yet, legal process should go on," the police spokesman said.           Police confirmed Monday that 19 people had been killed in a clash in Kimak hamlet in Ilaga, Puncak district in the eastern province of Papua.  "A communal clash has occurred in Ilaga, Papua, on July 30 and 31 2011 leaving 19 people dead and one wounded,"  Anton Bachrul Alam.           Relating the chronology of the events, Anton said the clash occurred after the local General Election Commission (KPU) refused to accept documents from Simon Alom who was seeking to run for district head on a reason that the party that initially supported Simon had withdrew its support.           In the meantime, Legal and Security Coordinating Minister Djoko Suyanto said that the government through the law enforcers would take action against parties violating the law in connection with the communal clashes in Puncak .          "Those who caused damage, hurt or killed people will face the law based on the degree of their guilt," Djoko said saying the relevant agencies were investigating the case. Police had taken the situation under control, however.          The government needs to  verify all data and reports on the latest bloody conflict."We still need to verify the data on the incident," Julian Aldrin Pasha, the presidential spokesman, said.         Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs  Djoko Suyanto has taken some steps to deal with the problem, Julian.           All results of field investigation would be submitted to concerned authorities and then reported to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono through Minister Djoko Suyanto, according to Julian.          "I think the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs will explain about the incident," Julian said.          On Tuesday, Djoko reported to the president the incident. According to the chief security minister the clashes   were fueled by discontent with regard to regional head elections. Therefore, he called on political parties to provide political education for their cadres and supporters.          Two groups of residents in Puncak Jaya district, Papua were involved in communal clashes in the village of Kimak, Ilega region, claiming the lives of 19 people. They were hit by arrows and stones.          Relating the chronology of the events, National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said the clash occurred after the local General Election Commission (KPU) refused to accept documents from Simon Alom who was seeking to run for district head on a reason that the party that initially supported Simon had withdrew its support.          "Thomas Tabuni as the local chief of Gerindra Party who initially supported Simon Alom had withdrawn his support. Due to it Simon Alom's supporters were angry and then attacked Thomas Tabuni supporters causing a clash," he said.          Police have already tried to drive away the rival groups to prevent further conflicts but the situation became uncontrollable after the two groups used arrows and stones to attack each other.          "A police Mobile Brigade member namely Second Brigadier Frans has even suffered an arrow wound though it was not serious. Due to the clash two people were killed and another one wounded," he said.           On July 31, on the same location, a clash occurred again leaving the house of Thomas Tabuni, his official home and a house damaged while the KPU office had been burned.           Anton said 13 supporters of Thomas Tabuni and four of Simon Alom supporters were killed in the incident.           "To support police in Ilaga totaling 11 and Brimob members embedded there, the Papua regional police command has already sent a platoon of Brimob members there," he said.           Deputy House Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso  asked police to act soon to prevent the communal clashes to escalate into wider horizontal conflict.           Besides, he also called on the conflicting parties who were involved in the communal clashes to restrain themselves. He said that the people should not easily be influenced by the conflict between regional head candidates who are only fighting to gain a political position.           "The conflict among the political elite about the regional head election in the district should not cause the local people to suffer," Priyo Budi Santoso.***3*** (T.A014/A/H-NG /f001  ) 04-08-2011 10:43:1