Keeping Hope Alive

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Security in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, has return to normal on Wednesday (2/10/2019).

WAMENA, KOMPAS — The general condition in Wamena, Jayawijaya, Papua, until the end of the week, remains quiet because residents are still afraid of going outside, especially at night. However, signs of recovery began to appear thanks to routine patrols made by the army and police.

Wamena is the center for the distribution of various goods to a number of regencies in the mountains of Papua, such as Lanny Jaya, Central Mamberamo, Yalimo, Tolikara, Nduga and Yahukimo. Basic needs, such as rice, cooking oil, eggs and even building materials are supplied from the city at the foot of the cool Baliem Valley.

Thousands of residents have waited for an Air Force Hercules aircraft to leave Wamena, following the riots of Sept. 23. Many of them are still there and are still optimistic. Hendrik Sanjaya, 27, a rice and fried chicken trader, together with two of his friends, chose to continue their activities on Jl. Yos Sudarso.

He was sure that the riots would not occur again.

"I’ve made a living here for the last five years. I will only leave Wamena if it is not secure anymore," Hendrik, who comes from East Java, said on Wednesday.

Based on data from the Jayawijaya regency government, the number of refugees following the Wamena riots reached a total of 19,664 people spread across 207 locations in Wamena.

Agu Hubi also looked tough, even though dozens of his shop houses in Hom-hom market had been burned by the masses. This Wamena resident believes, as the largest city in the central mountains of Papua, Wamena would soon be able to rise again.

A total of 101 of his shops were burned down during the recent riots.

"I hope the central government and the Jayawijaya regency administration can help entrepreneurs who have lost their place of business. We want to rebuild the economy on this land," he said.

Business activities have gradually returned on a number of roads, for example on Jl. Irian, Jl. Trikora, Jl. Sulawesi and Jl. Yos Sudarso. Fewer than 50 shops have begun to resume their activities in these commercial centers. On Jl. Hom-hom, Jl. Pikhe, Jl. Pasar Baru and Wouma, activities have gradually returned to normal. Lines of burned shops were seen in the area. The situation was still quiet.

Jayawijaya Regent John Richard Banua promised that the regency government together with the military and the police would guarantee the safety of residents. The Jayawijaya regency government together with the Public Works and Housing Ministry are ready to rehabilitate shops and homes, he added.

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Displaced people from Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, prepare to board a Hercules plane belonging to the Air Force and fly to the provincial capital Jayapura on Tuesday (1/10/2019).

John will also meet the management of all schools in Wamena to convince them that the situation is safe enough to restart classes.

"The situation in Wamena has begunto recover. This week, students will attend school as usual. We ask residents to stay here to rebuild Wamena," he said.

Based on data from the Jayawijaya regency government, the number of refugees following the Wamena riots reached a total of 19,664 people spread across 207 locations in Wamena. Outside Wamena, the number totaled 1,442 people in 26 locations.

The largest number of refugees are staying in the Jayawijaya Police headquarters and the Jayawijaya Kodim 1702 military command, or around 6,000 people. They receive food rations three times a day.

However, the majority of refugees, both adults and children, sleep on mats. The temperature in Wamena, which has an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level, can reach 10 degrees Celsius.

As of Wednesday, around 8,000 people had left Wamena. More than 17,900 people have registered to be flown out of Wamena, including those from outside Wamena.

PENERANGAN KODAM XVII CENDERAWASIH

Residents assisted by soldiers and police officers clean up the wreckage of gutted buildings in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, on Friday (4/10/2019).

Asri, 34, a refugee at the military airport in Wamena, said he and his wife and two children had fled to Jayapura because of trauma.

"One day we will return to Wamena to develop this area," said the man from Makassar, South Sulawesi, that.

The commander of Kodam XVII/Cenderawasih military command, Major General Herman Asaribab and the commander of Jayapura Silas Papare Air Force Base, First Marshal Tri Bowo Budi said they had prioritized the evacuation of women, children, elderly people and sick people.

Healthy men are expected to remain in Wamena to rebuild the economy with the government. On average, residents who fled Wamena are engaged in businesses to provide transportation services, basic necessities, building materials and electronics.