The Jakarta Post, August 03, 2006
Age-old rules govern tribal warfare
Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Mimika
News of the deadly tribal clashes in Papua's Mimika regency shocked some in other
parts of the country, with reports of the use of spears and bows and arrows an
unsettling throwback to a bygone era.
But tribal warfare is still the accepted means to settle disputes for the seven tribes
living in the regency.
The latest clash, with 10 people killed and dozens injured in Kwamki Lama village,
Mimika Baru district, involved the Dani and Damal tribes. It could, however, have been
any of the groups, with the playing out of the conflict following age-old patterns of a
burst of violence followed by negotiations.
Kwamki Lama village was established in 1978, with residents relocated from Banti
village in Tembagapura district by PT Freeport Indonesia, a subsidiary of the huge
U.S. gold and copper mining company Freeport-McMoran, and the government.
Most people originally lived on the slopes of Mount Lorenz, including members of the
Amungme, Damal, Dani, Nduga and Moni, Mee/Ekari tribes (the Kamoro tribe lives
along the coastal areas of Mimika regency). The population has reached about 20,000
today, with most families eking out a living from subsistence farming or panning for
gold from the Freeport mine's tailings.
Economic development and education are still lacking in the area.
Although the various tribes' members now live together in close proximity, it's often an
uneasy and potentially explosive mix. They retain their individual dialects and
customs, including tribal warfare. Tribesmen continue to carry traditional weapons to
protect themselves against attacks by wild animals, and human enemies.
Kwamki Lama elder Philiphus Wakerma said exact rules governed conflicts, including
that the battle zone must be limited to a specific area.
"A tribal conflict usually ensues from friction between two tribes or when a family
member of a tribe abruptly dies," he told The Jakarta Post. "The cause of death is
later determined through the traditional way of shooting an arrow in the air, and
whoever is touched by the arrow is suspected of being the killer."
A member of the victim's side would convey the signal for the start of the war to the
opposite group, he added, in accordance with tradition. The campaign is led by a war
chief, and the duration of the hostilities is agreed upon by both sides.
Each tribesman is provided with bows and arrows, machetes and spears before
leaving for war.
Wakerma said the bodies of any people killed during the conflict must be immediately
cremated to prevent their restless souls from haunting family members.
"The victim's camp later decides whether or not to continue the war and demands
compensation for the victim in the form of prized livestock or money," he said.
"The standard rules also state that a war resumes when the number of victims on
either side is disproportionate, and that children and women must not be harmed
during a war."
Damal tribal chief Elminus Mom said the bow, arrows and machetes of a fallen victim
must not be burned because they were considered tokens of respect.
Before a lasting peace can be achieved, each tribe must participate in the Inambe Agi
-- a ritual to dispense with hostility andd hatred -- after a cease-fire. The ceremony is
usually held on the field where the battles were fought. It must be carried out before
the stone-burning ritual, which is the peak of the effecting of peace.
"The breaking of the bow line and arrow ritual is held on an open field by both warring
tribes' war commanders. The ceremony marks the end of the tribal war, and signifies
that the problems have been resolved," Elminus said.
Hostilities end when the victim's family on the losing side receives payment.
"Compensation is usually in the form of prized pigs or a certain amount of money
agreed upon by both parties involved in the war," he said.
Once all the requirements have been fulfilled, enmity is put aside and traditional
brotherhood returns.
The stone-burning ritual is later held on an open field, with a particular number of pigs
roasted and eaten based on the agreement between the tribes.
All contents copyright © of The Jakarta Post.
|
