Thousands Pack Air Force Base in Wamena Following Riots
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October 1, 2019 | 07:58 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A long queue consisting of thousands of refugees have formed at the Wamena Military Air Force base waiting to be evacuated from Jayawijaya District on Tuesday, October 1. The Hercules airplane on standby is set to fly the refugees to areas such as Jayapura and Timika.
Based on Tempo’s observation, the Air Force prioritizes children, women, and those with illnesses to be boarded onto the airplane first.
According to the Wamena Air Force Detachment Commander Arief Sudjatmiko, the Indonesian military (TNI) today has evacuated 1,826 refugees from the region. Ever since the deadly riots broke, the military has evacuated a total of 6,472 people.
Testimony from these refugees asserts that the riots had scarred a deep sense of trauma within the people of Wamena and they have decided to join others in taking temporary refuge in regions outside of the region. Others also called for the National Police and Armed Forces (TNI) to guarantee their safety there in the future.
The 172 Wamena Military Command’s Commander, Colonel Infantry Yonathan Sianipar hopes that people would not leave the region and that the mass evacuations are what the actual intentions of the armed groups responsible for the deadly riots and attacks across the region.
I WAYAN AGUS PURNOMO
