The state must immediately be present to protect all citizens and fairly enforce laws in PapuaPadang, W Sumatra (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI)-Padang City Chapter urged the government to bring true justice to and ascertain the safety and security of Indonesians in Papua, including those migrating to the province for a living.
"The state must immediately be present to protect all citizens and fairly enforce laws in Papua," Head of the MUI-Padang Chapter Duski Samad told ANTARA on Monday while speaking in connection with the recent brutal killings of 33 innocent civilians in Wamena, Papua Province.
Samad remarked that the Papua governor had tendered his apologies for the human tragedy, but it was far from sufficient. He believes it should also be bolstered by ensuring that true justice is meted out and that law is enforced stringently against those, who killed innocent civilians.
Wamena's recent human tragedy should be resolved through a fair law enforcement process in accordance with Indonesia's legal systems rather than merely being solved politically, he stated, adding that he denounced the barbaric killings of innocent civilians.
"We condemn those, who have been committed this inhumane crime, and we demand the state’s presence in protecting its citizens," he added.
Wamena's deadly rioting broke out during a rally that native Papuan students had staged on September 23.
Related news: MUI deplores brutal killings of innocent civilians in Papua's Wamena
A total of 33 people, including a medical doctor, were killed, while at least 77 others sustained injuries due to the riot that had also forced several thousand residents, mostly non-native Papuans, to take refuge in local military and police compounds.
The dead and wounded also comprised non-native Papuans, who had borne the brunt of assaults by rioters brandishing machetes and arrows. Several of them migrated to Papua from their hometowns in provinces, such as West Sumatra and South Sulawesi, to make a living.
Papua Police Chief Inspector General Rudolf A. Rodja had earlier stated that the rioting in Wamena may have been incited by the proliferation of hoaxes through social media platforms that fueled ire among its residents.
Related news: Thousands seek refuge at Jayawijaya Police Headquarter after riots
According to several local media reports, the Wamena riot was spurred by hoaxes pertaining to a teacher's racist slur against native Papuan students.
In August, a wave of violence also broke out in several parts of Papua and West Papua in the upshot of the Surabaya incident that had triggered resentment and fury among native Papuans.
Native Papuans in various parts of the provinces of Papua and West Papua demonstrated to protest against alleged racist slurs targeting Papuan students in Surabaya on August 16. Related news: 3,225 refugees in Jayapura, confirms coordinating minister
Related news: Jokowi urges Papuans to not believe hoax, slander
EDITED BY INE
Translator: Laila S, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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