Papua Shootout; Jayawijaya Regent Calls on People to Stay Calm
Translator
Ricky Mohammad Nugraha
Editor
Markus Wisnu Murti
Jumat, 23 Agustus 2019 20:51 WIB
Indonesian police and TNI soldiers guarded when a mass of action closed the road in Mimika, Papua, Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Rallies erupted in more towns in Indonesia's Papua on Wednesday, with protesters setting fire to a market and throwing stones at buildings following a spate of demonstrations in the easternmost area over perceived discrimination. ANTARA FOTO/Sevianto Pakiding
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jayawijaya Regent Jhon Richard Banua called on citizens of Papua to stay calm and composed following the recent shootout between a local armed criminal group (KKB) and a joint Indonesian law enforcement team (TNI-Police) at the Jibama Market.
What is worrying is that a member of the criminal group had threatened locals prior to being shot by law enforcers.
“People, do not be provoked by rumors stating that a member of the public were shot. [The group's member] was armed and forced to be neutralized,” said Banua in Wamena on Friday, August 23.
Banua said that the suspect, who was considered a separatist, would have possibly turned attention to civilians present at the market if law enforcers did not act quickly.
The Jibama market was suddenly deserted following the shootout and was immediately secured by members from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police.
