A conflict had broken out between two groups in Demta. One group was focussed around a cultural centre they called the Mammo, where their activities, possibly of a messianic or cultish nature, involved belief in a king who would bring salvation. They raised two flags, the flag of the king and the Morning Star flag of Papuan Independence. The next day another group burned the Mammo down. To keep the situation calm, several members of the Mammo group reported to the police, but were arrested and charged with treason. Konflik pecah antara 2 kelompok di Demta. Satu kelompok difokuskan di sekitar sebuah pusat budaya yang mereka sebut Mammo, di mana kegiatan mereka, mungkin yang bersifat mesianis atau pemujaan, melibatkan keyakinan bahwa seorang raja yang akan membawa keselamatan. Mereka mengibarkan 2 buah bendera, bertanda raja dan bendera bintang kejora. Keesokan harinya kelompok lain membakar Mammo bawah. Untuk menjaga situasi tenang, beberapa anggota kelompok Mammo melaporkan hal tersebut kepada polisi, dimana akhirnya mereka ditangkap dan didakwa melakukan makar.