Wiranto Says Papua Gets Internet Back on September 5

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto said that Papua will have the internet connection back up soon. However, he said this would only be done if situations remain under control. 

"On the 5th (September). Today is the 3rd. On the 5th, if things have completely calmed down, we will bring back the internet," Wiranto said in a press conference at the Justice and Human Rights Ministry's Office in Jakarta, Tuesday, September 3. 

Wiranto said he is coordinating with TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, and Head of the State Intelligence Agency Budi Gunawan to monitor the latest situation in Papua. Wiranto said he had requested to restore internet network immediately today.

He said that the flood of hoaxes has greatly reduced albeit not entirely gone. In addition, most of the messages being posted tend to have a positive note. Wiranto also said the situation in the region was 90 percent stable.

"But from the information we gathered, based on security analysis, we need a little more time," he said. 

Wiranto reiterated that internet restriction in the easternmost region of Indonesia is an effort to protect national security. The racism and discrimination against Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang, Wiranto said, had been taken advantage of by irresponsible people to worsen the situation by posting false information to social media.

The internet restriction in Papua has been going on since August 20, a few days after the incidents in Surabaya and Malang. At the time, riots broke in Manokwari and Sorong City.

Despite the restriction, the riots continued to spread to other areas such as Deiyai and Jayapura over the following week. This restriction also caused a wave of massive protests from various parties.

Egi Adyatama