FAX received 18 February 1997 from Lembaga Studi Dan Advokasi Masyarakat, the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy, Jl. Kp. Melayu Besar 44, Jakarta 12480, Indonesia. Phone: 62-21-829.6905. Fax: 835.3690.

(Ed: the entire following document should be regarded as being ensconced within a giant SIC, there being so many grammatical errors. We have proofread it several times, leaving all errors in place. The presence of a question mark is a sign of a character rendered obscure in the fax/copy process.)

(Caveat: on March 8, Agence Presse France asserted, in reference to the tribal warfare reported below, that "The January incident allegedly started over a soured love affair between members of the two tribes." I take that to mean that the claims of rape, below, are disputed. I have not yet seen any further statements on the "it wasn't rape" side of the issue, but would be happy to post them.)

(Caveat: the Syndey Morning Herald reported on Sept. 19, 1997 that the police have concluded that no rape occurred.)

The following information was prepared on the basis of a FAX sent by Lemasa at Timika on 31 January 1997. Issued on 5 February 1997 by Walhi, Elsam, Infid, and LPPS.

Chronology of Event

The riot at Tembagapura between Dani and Amungme ethnic groups, began with the rape befalling three Dani women. On 25 January 1997, three Dani women, respectively Aberina Kogoya (a girl), Jordena Murip and Illidia Wanimbo (the last two were married women) went to Tembagpura from Utikini, their native village. When they arrived at Post IV, the three Dani women were called and invited to have lunch together by three members of Freeport Security Unit, respectively Bartol Magal, Lew?i Uamang and Amos Kuum (all of them were from Amungme ethnic group). In order to convince the women, the latter showed a piece of blank tin sheet. Thus, the three women thought that the security men had a good intention.

However, the three women proved to be wrong. On 10.00 local time they were raped by for two (2) hours by the three Freeport security personnel, after the latter had succeeded to detain those Dani women in a container owned by Freeport. After being raped, those three women were told to go home at Utekini.

When they got home, the three women reported/complained to their respective families. Hence, some Dani people came to Post IV -- the place where the incident took place. One of the rapist, Bartol Magal, was beaten up by the women's family.

On 26 January 1997, around 5.00 local time, a group of Dani community (the family of the rape victim) demanded that the Amungme living in Kampung (hamlet) Pindah Baru pay a fine to the victims. Hence a fine was paid to the two (2) married women amount of Rp. 2,000,000 (ed: approx. $900 US) in addition to two (2) pigs. Whereas with regard to the girl, the Danis demanded that the fine be paid at Utikini, with a purpose of being settled by many people.

When they were on their way to Utikini hamlet, a Freeport car came with some security personnel on it, saying that they wanted to monitor the security situation. When the car stopped, Simeon Jenempa (a security member from Amungme ethnic group) came out. Upon seeing Simeon, a women family of the rape victim got infuriated, and she immediately approached him and beat him on the head with a piece of wooden stick, so that Simeon's head was injured and bled. This incident was followed with stone throwing at each other, they even used bows and arrows to chase after each other. This incident caused five persons to be treated in Tembagpura hospital.

This event could not be tolerated by the Amungmes who lived in Banti village. They join hands with their fellow ethnic group at Pindah Baru hamlet and together they marched to Utekini hamlet in order to attack Dani community. Realising the increasingly critical situation, at around 15.30 local time Mr. Yanes Natkime (from Amungme ethnic group and acted on behalf of LEMASA), took an initiative to make peace between the two community groups who were planning to attack each other. Mr. Natkime's efforts, however, was answered by the hurling of stones and even arrows. Luckily, in this incident, Mr. Natikime did not suffer injury whatsoever. After that, toward midnight the tension was somewhat lessened. However, it was at this time when a group of Amungmes from Banti village departed to Utekini and upon arrival they burned a co-operative office with all its contents owned by the Danis.

The Dani community group could not accept this treatment. On 27 January 1996 (sic) they challenged the Amungmes of Banti village saying the `the rape problem has been settled, and now it is the problem of the burning of the cooperative office owned by the Danis.' In face of such a challenge, the Amungmes in Banti village immediately mobilised their forces, prepared for the attack to be launched by the Danis.

Due to the increasingly heated situation, on 9.00 local time Messrs. Yanes Natkime (on behalf of LEMASA), Dvia Mom, and Ros?a made a report on the prevailing tension to Mr. Dodi JH, the Operation Commander of Unit 703, requesting for security measure in Tembagpura. However, they were greatly disappointed at the Commander's response, who said `This is not our problem, but it becomes a community problem. We came to protect PT Freeport Indonesia Company, not to protect the community.'

At the same time, the Danis formed five (5) groups, while the Amungmes formed ten (10) groups to attack each other. The Danis in Utekini divided their forces into 2 parts, one group was hiding while 4 other groups stood guard in the open by the sides of the road to wait for the Amungmes from Banti. When the Amungmes from Banti arrived, the Danis chased them. In this scuffle an Amungme young man, called Leo Magal, got stabbed on the stem of his neck with a spear. A few moment before, some people among the Amungmes side said that `we came not to attack but in order to see the problem.'

Leo's death infuriated the Amungmes, and they launched a counter attack. The assault was conducted with arrows and any other sharp objects, causing four of the Danis lost their lives. The Danis beat a retreat in confusion. An old Dani woman tried to save herself by jumping into a river (Kabur River), but got drowned instead.

Following this tragic event, precisely on 28 January 1996 (sic) several parties including LEMASA, represented by Tom Beanal and ?Benny Ts?enawatme, the military represented by two intelligence officers of the Regional Police Forces of Irian Jaya (West Papua), the GKI? (Indonesian Christian Church) represented by Rev. Abiel Tinal and the Chairman of the Amungkal Foundation, Andreas Anggaibak, tried to meet both groups involved in the fighting. This effort, however, was not fully successful. Meanwhile, LEMASA tried to contact the Head of Timika region to request for buses to evacuate mothers and children who may became victims in this inter-ethnic brawls. However, this request was not responded by the Regional Head, who was represented by the local Regional Secretary. He said that LEMASA could request for bus assistance through Goveris Dept. However, at that time LEMASA was not able to contact Goveris Dept. by phone. After the incident at Tembagpura, a rumor was rampant that communities in Kwankitama village, Timika, wanted to attack communities in Kwankibaru village. Hence the security apparatus was fully prepared around LEMASA office which happened to be situated in Kwankibaru village. Upon hearing such rumor, LEMASA members got together in their office. At this time, a man known as a member of Amungkal Foundation under Andreas Anggaiback was found among LEMASA crowd. He was accused by LEMASA members to be a spy used by PT FIC to get information on LEMASA activities. Hence, he was beaten up by some LEMASA youth. As a follow up of the incident in front of the LEMASA office, some LEMASA youth stormed the office of Amungkal Foundation which happened to be not far from the LEMASA office. This assault left the office of Amungkal Foundation in a wreck.

As a consequence of this assault, on 30 January 1996 (sic), the Police Sector of Kwala Kencana, Timika, issued a warrant to Yohanes Pinemet, the Executive Director of LEMASA Foundation, as a suspect for the destruction of the office of Amungkal Foundation. According to the warrant Yohannes Pinemet was supposed to appear before the police on 5 February 1996 (sic).

Conclusion

LEMASA requested Bishop Muninghof (sic), the Chairman of GKI of Jayapura Class and King?ne Church of Jayapura to re-establish peace among the disputing parties in Banti. However, efforts at mediation by churches was not supported/facilitated by Freeport, by refusing to provide transportation to go uphil. Meanwhile the situation was still boiling, there was no peace between the disputing parties.

The attitude shown by Freeport was a proof that this company, indeed, had an `interest' in the riot. There was even strong indication that Freeport security apparatus intentionally left this disturbance unsettled so as to involve more Amungmes in this problem. By so doing, the position of LEMASA as the only group which persist in its claim against PT FIC in New Orleans, USA, could be undermined and `confused'. In addition to LEMASA as a strong traditional group, this target is also addressed to Tom Beanal, Amungme traditional figure, who tenaciously, together with local traditional communities, have fought for their rights through the Court of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The assumption was, if Tom Beanal's influence on local inhabitants could be reduced, the position PT FIC would be stronger. A proof of this suspicion was the destruction of the Amungkai Foundation office by LEMASA supporters.

All these series of events elaborated above was a result of PT Freeport efforts to divide the unity and integration of Amungme ethnic group. In the meantime, the latest development about Timika situation has not been obtained.