Four injured in clash at Papua gold river

Four people were injured in clash between ?law enforcers? and people panning for gold by the river of Minibiru at the border areas of Paniai and Nabire regencies in Papua, Antara reported on Monday.

The news agency said hundreds of people fled to surrounding jungles following the incident.

The incident took place on Thursday when the gold miners came to a gold trader by the name of H. Marzuki to sell the gold ore they had collected from the river. They were infuriated when Marzuki set a lower price for their gold. They demanded the trader raise the price. ?Law enforcers? that guarded Marzuki angrily reacted by beating and even opened fire at them, forcing them to run away and hide themselves at nearby jungles.

The news agency does not specify if the ?law enforcers? are police or military members, but quoted locals as saying they came from Jayapura and were hired by Marzuki to guard the transaction.

The injured people have been evacuated to Nabire for medial treatment, according to the news agency. (*)