Jayawijaya – Clashes between residents involving the Pirime and Kurima tribes in Woma District, Jayawijaya Regency, continue to be a concern for security forces.
The Papua Regional Police (Polri) have confirmed they will deploy additional personnel to prevent the conflict from escalating and resulting in more casualties.
Papua Police Chief, Inspector General Patrige Renwarin, stated that the additional troops will strengthen security at several points prone to clashes. Authorities will also implement roadblocks to anticipate mass mobilization from both warring groups.
“We will increase personnel for security purposes to prevent this conflict from escalating. Personnel will be stationed at several locations to implement roadblocks and prevent the tribal war from escalating,” said Inspector General Patrige Renwarin in Jayapura, Friday (May 15, 2026).
In addition to security measures, the Papua Regional Police are also collaborating with church leaders, traditional leaders, and local government officials to expedite the mediation process and resolve the customary fines that are at the root of the conflict.
According to the Regional Police Chief, officers are currently focused on assisting in the search for victims swept away in the UE River after a suspension bridge collapsed, crossing a crowd amidst the conflict. The search is being conducted jointly by officers and the community to prevent further clashes.
“The main focus of officers at this time is to ensure the search for victims runs safely and to prevent further clashes amidst the large crowds in the Woma area and Wamena City,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Regent of Jayawijaya, Ronny Elopere, requested that additional troops be deployed immediately to prevent the conflict from escalating due to mass mobilization from both sides.
“We, the local government, hope for additional security support to prevent mass mobilization from both groups, because if there is mass mobilization, the conflict will escalate,” he said.
The tribal conflict is known to have been sparked by a long-standing dispute over customary fines following a 2024 traffic accident that killed a member of the Lanny Jaya Regency Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD). The situation escalated after a suspension bridge across the UE River collapsed while being crossed by a crowd, leaving dozens of residents swept away and missing. Until now, the process of searching for victims is still ongoing.
