TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Papua Regional Police Chief Ir. Gen. Mathius D Fakhiri confirmed that at least 19 people were detained in riots following the arrest of Governor Lukas Enembe on Tuesday, January 10, 2023.

Mathius explained that the arrest of the governor prompted riots in two locations, namely Papua Mobile Brigade HQ (Mako Brimob) and Sentani Airport, Jayapura.

“There were small incidents due to yesterday’s [incident] arrest. But we managed to quell the riot,” he said in an online press conference, Wednesday, January 11, 2023.

He outlined that two people were detained in the riot in Mako Brimob, and the rest 17 people were secured at Sentani Airport. “They are being questioned by the police,” he added.

One of the protestors, he went on, died from a gunshot wound. “We offer condolences to the family. We are also taking measures to handle it,” Mathius said.

According to him, the riot was a response act of the public because the governor is one of the respected figures in the country’s easternmost province.

“I think it’s reasonable considering bapak (Mr.) Enembe has many sympathizers, supporters, and family,” Mathius said.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Lukas Enembe as a suspect in the alleged bribery case related to a number of infrastructure projects in Papua. To date, the anti-graft body has named two suspects in the case, the governor and Rijanto Lakka.

MIRZA BAGASKARA

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