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Papua protests continue amid internet blackout
Communications and Information Ministry blocks data access in Papua, West Papua.
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A protester participating in anti-racism rally in Central Jakarta holds banner that reads “Papuans are not monkeys”. The protesters hold the rally to urge the government to solve the racial abuse case against Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
Antiracism protests continued in Papua for the fourth consecutive day amid a government-imposed internet blackout in the region.
Thousands rallied in front of the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) building in Nabire regency on Thursday in response to the verbal and physical abuse suffered by Papuan university students in East Java over the weekend.
Nabire resident Eko Purwanto said the rally began at around 7 a.m. local time on Thursday and was initially peaceful.
"But when the crowd reached the DPRD building they started to burn tires in front of it," Eko told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Eko, whose house is only 200 meters away from the building, said he heard the crowd threaten to set fire to the building.
In the past few days, DPRD buildings in Manokwari and Sorong have also been set on fire by protesters.
"The police and TNI [Indonesian military] who were guarding the building fired warning shots and tear gas," Eko said, adding that by noon, the protesters had been dispersed.
