He not only mobilized the grassroots but also served as an actor behind the riots in Jayapura and several parts of Papua
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Police (Polri) has arrested a man suspected of being an intellectual actor behind the series of riots in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua.

The man, identified by his initials 'FBK', has been named a new suspect, Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the National Police Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta Monday. FBK was arrested at Sentani Airport in Jayapura, Friday, September 6, as he was about to board a flight bound for Wamena, he said.

FBK played a role as an intellectual actor behind the riots, Dedi said. He had also mobilized several people from the Papuan Student Alliance.

"He not only mobilized the grassroots but also served as an actor behind the riots in Jayapura and several parts of Papua," he said.

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Violence erupted at several rallies held last month in Papua and West Papua in support of Papuan students who had been at the receiving end of racist slurs in Surabaya and Malang, East Java.

As of Thursday, September 5, the National Police had named 57 suspects in Papua and 21 suspects in West Papua for their alleged involvement in these riots.

Earlier, the government had named two suspects for the racist speech against the students, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto had stated last Monday. "We have named two suspects Tri Susanti and Saiful. Both were charged on multiple counts," he had said.

The two suspects were charged under Article 45A and Article 28 Law no. 19/2016 for electronic information and transaction.

The authorities also suspended five personnel of the East Java Military Command for allegedly violating military discipline.

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Translator: Anita Permata Dewi/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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