Wamena Riots; Thousands Still in Refuge
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8 October 2019 12:09 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - There are still around 5,000 people displaced by the riots in Wamena, Papua. They currently live in 22 temporary refugee posts, mostly in Jayawijaya Regional Police, Jayawijaya Regional Military Command, Koramil, and Wamena Air Field.
"We encourage learning and teaching activities in schools to resume," Papua Regional Police deputy chief, Brig. Gen. Jacobus Marjuki said in Timika, Monday, October 7.
Some of the refugees who were evacuated to Jayapura have returned to their hometowns.
"In Jayapura, around 2,000 people have returned to their respective neighborhoods."
Mass riots that occurred in Jayapura on August 29 spread to Wamena on September 23. More than thirty people were killed in the riots triggered by a teacher's racist statement.
Thousands have fled Papua to return to their hometowns, flown by TNI's Hercules aircraft, facilitated by their local governments. Many are concerned that the departure of transmigrants will cripple Wamena's economy.
Meanwhile, Jacobus said that the armed violence that still occurred in Ilaga lately is related to the conflicts during the legislative and presidential elections, 17 April 2019.
ANTARA
