Peaceful election in Papua

TIMIKA, Papua: Papuans in Timika regency braced heavy rains as they headed to polling stations across the regency on Wednesday morning to vote for the next president.

They came to polling stations two hours earlier than those living in western Indonesia.

Rains soaked Nawaripi village in Mimika Baru district on Wednesday morning, but that did not deter voters. At polling stations No. 1 and No. 3, for example, people queued to vote.

At polling station No.1, Fransiskus Bokeyau was the first to vote.

Polling station No. 1 chairman Ewgel Urmami said he hoped this presidential election would select the best candidate to bring prosperity to Papuans.

Mimika is home to copper and gold mines belonging to Free-port Indonesia. Such natural resources and a low-key separatist movement that is active in the region make the stability of Papua an important issue for all presidential candidates.

Several days before the election, dozens of locals cut down trees to block the road to the Mimika General Elections Commission office in Timika. Two people were arrested by the police while many others fled to the forest. - JP