Ten Civilians Killed in Wamena, Papua Police Chief Apologizes
Fake news about child abductions sparked clashes between civilians, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police. At least 10 civilians died and 18 security forces were injured in the incident.
By
FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA
·4 minutes read
DOKUMENTASI YAYASAN KEADILAN DAN KEUTUHAN MANUSIA PAPUA
An ambulance brought one of the victims killed in riots in Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Mountains, on Saturday (25/2/2023).
JAYAPURA, KOMPAS – Fake news about child abductions that spread in Sapalek village, Jl. Trans-Irian, Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua Highlands, on Thursday (23/2/2023) sparked clashes between civilians, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police. Until Friday (24/2/2023), 10 civilians died and 18 security forces were injured in the incident.
Papua Police head Insp. Gen. Matthew Fakhiri, in a press conference in Timika, Mimika regency, Central Papua, on Friday (24/2), apologized for the unrest in Wamena. He also expressed his condolences for the families of the 10 victims who died in the incident.
The Papua Police’s internal affairs division (Propam) is still investigating the cause of death of the 10 civilians. Matthew instructed Papua Police Propam head Comr. Gustav Urbinas to go to Wamena and thoroughly evaluate the attempts to control the masses prior to the riots.
“I have instructed Papua Police Dirkrimum [criminal investigation director] Kombes Faisal Ramadhani to assist the Jayawijaya Police in investigating the spread of hoaxes and the provocative actions that led to riots. We will prevent the spread of hoaxes aimed at disrupting security on Papua soil,” said Matthew.
According to Matthew, the riots were sparked by the spread of fake news about child abductions. There were also provocative actions that led to clashes between security forces and civilians.
Based on the chronology of events presented by the police, the incident began with several civilians stopping a car traveling from Yomaima village, while it crossed the Sinakma area, Wamena, at 12:30 p.m. Civilians suspected that the driver of the car was part of a child abduction plot, according to rumors circulating among the community.
The riots were sparked by the spread of fake news about child abductions.
Matthew said Jayawijaya Police head Adj. Sr. Come. Hesman Napitupulu and his team arrived at the location to stop the civilians’ vigilantism. However, more civilians did not accept their intervention and took to attacking the police with stones and arrows.
In addition to attacking security forces, the riot burned down two kiosks belonging to residents and 13 houses in the vicinity of the incident.
The security forces that were attacked were backed by the National Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and the Jayawijaya Military Command (Kodim), who then fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.
PENERANGAN KOREM 172/PWY
The Army apparatus negotiated with the masses to stop the riots in Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Mountains, on Thursday (2/23/2023).
National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Papua representative head Frits Ramandey said his party had sent a team to Wamena on Friday to assess the situation in the area and how the regional administration and security forces are managing it.
According to Jayawijaya regency Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) prevention division head, Ernawati Tappi, conditions in Wamena have not returned to normal following the riots. Many residents chose to stay at home or evacuate to a safe place.
“Residents do not dare to leave their homes out of fear of further actions by the warring parties. According to information we received, hundreds of residents have taken refuge at the Jayawijaya Police headquarters and the Jayawijaya Kodim headquarters,” said Erna.
Presumably shot
Papua Justice and Human Integrity Foundation director Theo Hesegem, said based on his observations at Wamena Hospital, eight of the victims had allegedly been shot dead, while the other two had had stab wounds and arrow wounds.
Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid expressed regret over the lives lost in Wamena. “A serious investigation is needed to thoroughly probe into this incident. Moreover, there were reports that several civilians died from gunshots. This must undergo a fair and impartial legal process,” he said.
As of Friday, the police claimed conditions in Wamena had gradually grown more conducive and controlled. The Papuan Police sent a team of Brimob troops to assist the Jayawijaya Police.
Jayawijaya Deputy Regent Marthin Yogobi urged residents not to be easily influenced by issues that have not been verified.
Papua Peace Network spokesman Yan Christian Warinussy, in Jayapura, said the police must identify who had been involved in spreading the fake news.
According to Kompas’ records, Papua has seen the spread of three hoaxes in the last three months, with the Wamena incident being the third.
The first hoax was about residents who became sick after buying clothes at the Tigi district market in Deiyai regency, Central Papua, on 12 December 2022. As a result, a group of people burned 50 kiosks and injured three residents and one Indonesian Army officer.
The second hoax was about a child abduction plot in Sorong, South Papua, in early January 2023. As a result, a group of residents at the Kokoda complex, Sorong Manoi district, burned a woman they suspected was abducting children until their death, on 24 January 2023.
