10 Feb 2012

Papua election campaign death toll reaches 55

1:55 pm on 10 February 2012

Police in the Indonesian region of Papua are reported as saying local election campaigns in the Puncak area have claimed 55 lives in the past eight months.

The Tempo website reports the clashes have involved two groups for rival regency candidates, Simon Alom and Elvis Tabuni.

The Papua police spokesperson, Commander Wachyono, says two deaths at the weekend have taken the death toll in the area to 55.

He says police have dispatched a platoon of the mobile brigade to secure the area.

Commander Wachyono says police have been working to encourage peace there but clashes still happen.