简体中文
By APD writer Aditya Nugraha
JAKARTA, Aug. 30 (APD) - Indonesia departed 4 SSK (company-level unit) of police personnel, or equals to 400 ones, to beef up security in Papua provincial capital of Jayapura as a new riot broke in the city on Thursday, Indonesian Police Headquarters Spokesperson Dedi Prasetyo said here.
Dedi said those police personnel were from mobile brigade units currently serving in East Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan provincial police headquarters.
“They were sent to Jayapura today. We don’t know yet when will they return to their bases. We will evaluate the developing situations there first,” Dedi said.
The new riot in Jayapura broke in the morning after an anti-discrimination demonstration in the city’s Waena district. The demonstrators protested the arrest of Papua students in East Java two weeks ago, which was marred with disrespectful acts against the students.
Demonstrators turned violent as they marched down the streets in the city’s business district areas. They pelted stones against banks, shops and hotels opened alongside the streets.
Schools closed down their activities and sent home their students due to the riot.
Papua Military Command Headquarters Spokesperson Eko Daryanto said that rioters burned down parts of state-run telecommunication firm office, a gas station, and Papuan People Congress (MRP) building.
The MRP is an Indonesian governmental organization to administer the autonomy mechanism in the easternmost province.
Rioters also vandalized cars and military facilities in the city.
Telephone and phone messaging services were deactivated in the afternoon, completing the measures to block telecommunication access in Papua in the last two weeks, according to state media outlet Antara.
Waves of riots in Papua and West Papua provinces that ensued since August 19 have started to claim lives.
Indonesian authorities said that one soldier and two civilians were killed in the riot that occurred in Papua’s Deiyai regency on Wednesday. Rioters also seized rifle guns from troops during the riot in Deiyai regency.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
