President: Don\'t be Anarchistic

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Black smoke billows on Thursday afternoon (29/8/2019) from buildings that caught fire during a public protest in Jayapura, Papua.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has urged the people of Papua to refrain from anarchy. The President also said evaluations would be conducted on Papua, including one related to security approaches.

PURWOREJO, KOMPAS — President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called on all parties to maintain peace in Papua. The government has voiced committed to continuing to move Papua forward.

"I ask the people to remain calm and not take anarchistic action. We all lose if public and community facilities are damaged," said the President on the sidelines of a working visit to Kulon Progo in Yogyakarta, and Purworejo and Magelang in Central Java, on Thursday (29/8/2019).

The President made the statement in response to a demonstration that ended in violence in Jayapura, Papua, on Thursday.

The demonstration, which began at 9 a.m. local time, started off peacefully. The crowd arrived from various areas in Jayapura and Sentani to protest the alleged violence and racial abuse against Papuan students in Surabaya and Malang in East Java recently. Protesters also demanded the lifting of an internet blackout that has been in place since Aug. 19.

However, at 4 p.m., the demonstration turned violent. The crowd set fire to the Jayapura Telkomsel office, the Papua People\'s Assembly building and a gas station, leading to government and economic activities as well as public services being paralyzed.

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

A column of smoke rises on Thursday afternoon (29/8/2019) from a fire that broke out during a public protest in Jayapura, Papua.

On Thursday afternoon, the government blocked cellular services, including voice and text messaging services, in Jayapura. According to Communication and Information Minister Rudiantara, the measure was taken because someone had cut the main cable of Telkom\'s optical network in the area.

On Wednesday, a demonstration in Deiyai, Papua, to make the same demands also ended in civil unrest. One soldier and two civilians lost their lives in the violence.

National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner Amiruddin Al Rahab urged ministry/agency leaders to respond with level heads to events in Deiyai and Jayapura.

Papuan community leaders should be invited to speak and have their aspirations heard to help solve problems in Papua, he said. Opinions and input from Papuan leaders are needed, Amiruddin added, so that the government\'s approach to Papua is in accordance with the wishes and needs of the local community.

ANTARA FOTO/INDRAYADI TH

Several people watch a burning building on Thursday evening (29/8/2019) in Jayapura, Papua. Several structures caught fire during a public protest in the city.

Evaluation

The President said plans were afoot to invite tribal leaders, traditional leaders and community leaders in Papua to a meeting.

The plan was disclosed by the President on Aug. 22 at Bogor Palace (Kompas,23/8/2019).

On Thursday, the President also gave assurances that all perpetrators of anarchistic and racist acts would be legally processed. When asked whether security approaches in Papua would be evaluated, the President replied, "We will evaluate everything."

Separately, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said the government had not ignored what was happening in Papua and had tried to come up with an appropriate approach.

Nevertheless, the government will not reopen access to telecommunications data services in Papua in order to prevent the spread of hoaxes that could worsen the situation in Papua."Social media is one tool used to spread false news. It has become a propaganda tool to attack the government," Wiranto said.

In order to avoid fresh clashes, Wiranto added, the security forces had been instructed not to act repressively or to use live ammunition.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian announced that unlawful acts employed in the expression of aspirations in Papua and West Papua would be legally processed.

ANTARA FOTO/INDRAYADI TH

A group of people watches firefighting efforts on Thursday evening (29/8/2019) in Jayapura, Papua. Several structures caught fire during a public protest in the city.

Meanwhile, the East Java Police named Tri Susanti a suspect of racial hatred. Tri was the coordinator of the violent Aug. 16 demonstration against Papua students living in a dormitory in Surabaya. (SAN/FLO/FRN/AGE/MED/EDN/INA/NTA)