Ministers, TNI and Police Chiefs Visit Riot-hit Wamena
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9 October 2019 05:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto, Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, and Indonesian Police (Polri) Chief General Tito Karnavian visited Wamena, Papua, to review the latest condition in the riot-hit town.
Health Minister Nila Djuwita F. Moeloek, State Enterprises (BUMN) Minister Rini Soemarno, and Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita were among other ministers also part of the entourage.
After arriving in Wamena, they held dialogs with local communities, visited riot-hit schools, and met the displaced people and local officials.
They also undertook a tour of Wamena Town to observe buildings as well as the Woma market, among others, burned during the riot.
Following the tour, they visited the Headquarters of the Regional Military Command (Kodim) 1702/Jayawijaya.
In the meantime, during the past few weeks, a circle of violence erupted in various cities in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.
On September 23, the riot broke out in Wamena during a massive protest, triggered by fake news about a teacher's racist slurs against local students.
A total of 33 people, including a medical doctor, were killed, while at least 77 others sustained injuries in the riot that also compelled several thousand residents, mostly non-native Papuans, to take shelter in the local military and police compounds.
The dead and wounded comprised non-native Papuans, who were assaulted by rioters brandishing machetes and arrows. Several of them had migrated to Papua from their hometowns in provinces, such as West Sumatra and South Sulawesi, to earn a living.
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Rudolf A. Rodja stated that the rioting in Wamena might have been fueled by the proliferation of hoaxes through social media platforms that fueled ire among its residents.
Several local media reports confirmed that the Wamena riot was spurred by hoaxes pertaining to a teacher's racist slur against native Papuan students.
ANTARA
