Public Services Have Yet to Recover

A number of public services in Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya regency in Papua, have yet to recover on 23 September 2019, eight days after violent riots rocked the town.

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Motorcyclists pass in front of Wouma Market in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, which was still deserted as of Tuesday (1/10/2019) after the riots broke out in the city on 23 September 2019.

WAMENA, KOMPAS — A number of public services in Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya regency in Papua, have yet to return to normal as of 23 September 2019, eight days after violent riots rocked the town. Residents are still too frightened to resume their usual activities despite security assurance from the military and the police.

Kompas observed in Wamena on Tuesday (1/10/2019) that schools, ranging from kindergartens to high schools, remained closed. Only the Wamena general hospital (RSUD) and two community health centers (Puskesmas) provided health services.

The downtown area was relatively empty, with shops and office buildings closed. Military and police personnel in full gear were seen on main thoroughfares, including Jl. Yos Sudarso, Jl. Trikora, Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sulawesi.

At Wamena Airport, passengers thronged the departure terminal. On the other hand, the arrival hall was deserted. Commercial planes from Jayapura, which arrived midday Tuesday, were only half full.

DOKUMENTASI DINAS SOSIAL NTB

Officers and volunteers pose for a photograph after assisting residents hailing from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to Jayapura, Papua, with facilities provided by Yonif 751/Raider Sentani Headquarters.

SMAN 1 Wamena state high school principal Yoseph Bisono said school activities had yet to resume. The Jayawijaya regency administration had not issued any instruction to close schools. "Many of our teachers have left Wamena. They are too afraid to return and teach. They promised that they would return once it was safe," Yoseph said.

Jayawijaya Health Agency head Wily Mambieuw said that currently Wamena had only 15 doctors serving patients at the RSUD and two Puskesmas. Health services in 25 other Puskesmas have stopped.

Sick evacuees

At shelters, evacuees are suffering from respiratory track infection and diarrhea. Data from Jayawijaya regency administration shows that 19,664 people fled their homes following the riots that killed 33. The evacuees are staying in 207 shelters in Wamena. Outside Wamena, 1,442 evacuees are spread in 26 shelters.

"We have enough medicine. Hopefully, the Health Ministry will send us doctors so that we can provide proper health services for evacuees and locals," Wily said.

Kompas

Hundreds of displaced people from Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, walk before being flown to Jayapura on Tuesday (1/10/2019). A large number of residents have left Wamena after the riots broke out in the city on 23 September 2019.

Evacuee Binsar Sianturi said that many evacuees needed matresses. He, for one, has been sleeping on the floor in the evacuation shelter. "We have no difficulty with food, but we need matresses, proper clothes and women and children needs," he said.

At the Wamena Air Force air base on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern Indonesian Time, thousands lined up to get airlifted by Hercules aircraft to Jayapura, Timika and Merauke.

Local Asri, 34, said that he and his wife and two children were trying to go to Jayapura. "One day we\'ll return to Wamena and rebuild this town. Now, we will leave for Jayapura until we forget our traumas," he said.

Airbase detachment commander Maj. Arief Sujatmiko said 1,826 people had been evacuated from Wamena to Jayapura, Timika and Merauke on Tuesday. In total, 6,472 people had been evacuated between 24 September and Tuesday.

"Today, we\'ll have 10 flights using three Hercules aircrafts. A total of 17,900 people have registered [for airlifting]," said Arief. This Wednesday, the Air Force\'s Hercules aircrafts will serve 10 flights to evacuate thousands of people to Jayapura and Biak Numfor.

KOMPAS/NINA SUSILO

Vice President Jusuf Kalla

In Jakarta, the government reaffirmed its commitment to resolve conflicts in Papua and West Papua. Apart from law enforcement, mutual understanding must also be strengthened.

"In the short term, we must improve legal approach and reconciliation. We have to boost bonding between people. We must be careful with our words to avoid misunderstanding as everything can be uploaded to the social media these days," Vice President Jusuf Kalla said.

(FLO/INA)