Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras)-Papua Chapter Sem Awom stated, on August 29, three civilians incurred shot wounds during a rally that the local residents had staged in the areas of Heram District and Abupera.
Speaking at a press conference on behalf of the KMSP activists in Jayapura, the capital city of Papua, on Tuesday (Sept 17), Awom said on August 30, at least nine residents sustained injuries, while another was killed during a sweeping operation launched by a certain group of people.
"On September 1, another group of people raided the Nayak I Kamkey Student Dormitory in the Abepura area. As a result, 17 people got wounded after being hit by stones and sharp weapon; one died of a gunshot; while the other one sustained a gunshot wound," he revealed.
However, the police had yet to confirm the death count and number of wounded in the acts of violence committed on Aug 29, Aug 30, and Sept 1. In its place, in early September, the police released the data of destroyed and damaged properties, he noted.
Awom quoted the Papua provincial police's data as revealing that 15 banks, seven police posts, 24 kiosks and shops, as well as 33 motor cycles and 36 cars got destroyed after being torched and vandalized by rioters.
In pursuit of ensuring truth and justice for community members, the KMSP drew attention to the significance of conducting an independent investigation into the violent acts to challenge the state's monopoly of information," he stated.
In connection with its efforts to assist victims of violent acts and human rights abuses that occurred during the recent protests in the provinces of Papua and West Papua, the KMSP opened its command post in Jayapura on Sept. 9.
Located at the AHIMSA Law Firm secretariat on the Sentani-Padang Bulan Road of Abepura, Jayapura City, community members, whose families might have fallen victim to the violence and human rights abuses, can contact 081247940004.
In August, a wave of violence broke out in several parts of Papua and West Papua in the upshot of the Surabaya incident that had triggered public ire among native Papuans.
Native Papuans in several parts of the provinces of Papua and West Papua held demonstrations protesting alleged racist slurs against the Papuan students in Surabaya on August 16.
On August 29, the indigenous Papuan residents of Jayapura had again staged protests, venting their fury over the alleged racist slurs against their Papuan compatriots in Surabaya, but their rally then turned violent.
The brutal demonstrators went on a rampage, vandalizing and setting ablaze several government buildings. The office of Antara, Indonesia's national news agency, in the city was also intentionally damaged by the demonstrators.
On August 28, a circle of violence also erupted in Deiyai District, some 500 kilometers away from Jayapura, resulting in the deaths of an army soldier and two civilians. Related news: Rights activists in Papua urge govt to offer comprehensive solution
Related news: Komnas HAM urges Jokowi to hold dialog in Papua
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Alfian R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
