Papua People's Assembly Says Wamena's Riot was Provoked
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23 September 2019 11:47 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Papua People's Assembly confirmed that a riot broke in Wamena, Papua on Monday morning, 23 September 2019. Speaker Timotius Murib said the riot broke because there were people who provoked demonstrators who were staging protests.
In a text message to Tempo, Timotius said the demonstrators were students and civilians who are protesting against racism as an aftermath of the racist acts against Papuan university students in Surabaya and Malang, East Java in August.
Timotius said, the demonstration in Wamena was then infiltrated by provocateurs.
"There are provocateurs inciting riots and anarchy," he said.
Antara reported that the Sentani Airport Authority on Monday morning had decided to temporarily stop flights to Wamena after an anarchist demonstration happened.
According to Timotius, similar demonstrations also took place at Cenderawasih University in Jayapura. Students, he said, had occupied the campus, but the situation has calmed down after the police stepped in.
TEMPO
