The people of the independent New Guinea side of the island have grown politically and culturally because they are free. If the Papuan are backward, it is because the Indonesian side is being exploited and the natives suppressed. Think about what happened in Tibet -- or closer to home, what was done to East Timor. No reluctance to imprison or massacre people there. Indonesia has been trying to dilute the native population by importing people from other parts of Indonesia. Imagine a pork loving culture (a major source of their wealth, New Guineans keep pigs almost as a pets.) of animist (God help them -- pagans!) or Christians (almost just as bad) ruled by an iron-handed Muslim central government. And from one side of the island they can see their brothers living in freedom.

what actually happened was yesterday morning, 18 June 2012, at around 09.20am (West Papua local time), Indonesian Police shot dead two civilians, Andelius Ongomang (45yo) and Dony Ongomang (43yo). Local witnesses said that there were no fight at all (between the two groups who are in conflict in that area, Timika) in the crime scene, they all were on stand guards. At around 09.20am one of the group (top stronghold) were doing traditional war-dancing, immediately the police fired the guns toward the group, resulted in two were shot. Dony was shot in the head. Because of the shooting incident the top stronghold group shot their arrows against the police and other group . Some civilians were reported injured and the angry mob then burnt police vehicle. The Indonesian Army (TNI) and Police troops with heavy weapons and equipment are in the conflict area now

more news about West Papua, visit www.westpapuamedia.info

Leave them to their own affairs...See who caused the most casualties?...thepolice...

Bayez
Leave them to their own affairs...See who caused the most casualties?...thepolice...

.....who happened to be the only group with firearms

The government over there should have given those tribes "whiskey" a long time ago, moved them off the rich forest/mineral deposits and onto expendable, designated territories. Of course, by now, they'd be busy running their casinos and have little time to fling arrows at one another...

Now I know that 99% of Americans are utterly ignorant of where Papua New Guinea is or what goes on there. So people may certainly be forgiiven for not knowing that for millennia the society in stasis that existed there, a stoneage cullture separated progressively over those millennia by its isolation from the mainland, used rudimentary weapons in semi-ritualistic tribal wars that would apparently settle the minor disputes-- over long duration-- that sparked the war. And, presumably, preserve the honor of the men who went on the warpath... National Geographic or somebody actually had some old video of Papuan conflict, including the end of a war and the peacemaking. That's what ends up happening.

There are, as you can see, LIMITS set to the intensity of the warfare. Arrows with bamboo shafts and spears seem to be the heaviest arms. And everything is homemade or improvised. It's kind of like the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) that does the chivalry reenactments, only they mean it!

The warriors are wearing baseball caps. Post-modern Western style and cultural manifestations (if not always culture) have not just penetrated even the most alien places. There is are very few areas of the world where Westernism has not manifestly at least partially supplanted "native" cultural mores. The one in front of the war party with his cap turned around-- well, even the war paint doesn't look out of place on a thug from the "hood. Except, of course, that in New Guinean tribal context, he's an honorable man and combatant.

It will be a tragedy if tribal elders ever lose their heads and permit warfare to proceed with modern weapons. Of course, we do not know from this report, but that may have occurred already. New Guinea is one of the world's largest islands, situated between Asia and Australia. There has never been much reason to report about the place. If we Westerners just left them to their own affairs, we'd have no reason to.

Just sayin'...

Reading one recent comments, I see that here is the best source for the unfolding story:

Juan Sentani MelanesiaVIA FACEBOOK

what actually happened was yesterday morning, 18 June 2012, at around 09.20am (West Papua local time), Indonesian Police shot dead two civilians, Andelius Ongomang (45yo) and Dony Ongomang (43yo). Local witnesses said that there were no fight at all (between the two groups who are in conflict in that area, Timika) in the crime scene, they all were on stand guards. At around 09.20am one of the group (top stronghold) were doing traditional war-dancing, immediately the police fired the guns toward the group, resulted in two were shot. Dony was shot in the head. Because of the shooting incident the top stronghold group shot their arrows against the police and other group . Some civilians were reported injured and the angry mob then burnt police vehicle. The Indonesian Army (TNI) and Police troops with heavy weapons and equipment are in the conflict area now

more news about West Papua, visit www.westpapuamedia.info

As someone said, can't we just all get along ?

These peoples, have been oppressed so long; it's like, enough, is enough.