TNI: Schools in Wamena, Papua to be Reopened on Oct. 7

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Air Chief Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto confirmed that schools in Wamena, Papua, will be reopened on Monday (Oct 7) following the restoration of security in the region.

"According to information, starting from Monday (October 7), schooling will return to normal in Wamena," Tjahjanto remarked after a ceremony to mark TNI’s 74th anniversary on Saturday.

According to Tjahjanto, the local residents were apprehensive over schooling being interrupted following unrest in Wamena and were keen to witness normalcy restored in the learning process for children from elementary and high schools.

The military chief pointed out that Papuans were not in favor of non-Papuans leaving Wamena, Ilaga, and Oksibil.

"Several Papuans do not want non-Papuans to return to their hometowns. They (Papuans) want the non-Papuans to remain in Wamena, Oksibil, and Ilaga," he pointed out.

Tjahjanto reiterated that the TNI had deployed its forces to support the Indonesian Police in securing some regions in Papua, including Jayapura and Wamena.

"The aim is to lend confidence to people in Wamena, Ilaga, and Oksibil that we will continue to maintain security, so that economic activities will run smoothly," he stated.

The ceremony, enlivened by a plethora of attractions, military parade, and convoy of TNI's weaponry system, was attended by President Joko Widodo, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and high-ranking officials comprising Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani, Chief of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) La Nyalla Mattalitti, Chief of the People's Consultative Assembly Bambang Soesatyo, and Vice President-elect KH Ma'ruf Amin.

Attendees at the ceremony also comprised former presidents Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as well as ex-vice presidents: Try Sutrisno, Hamzah Haz, and Boediono.

ANTARA