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Casualties reported in Papua's Deiyai after clash between security forces, protesters
A Catholic priest saw nine people with shot wounds lying under the Indonesian flag in front of the regent’s office.
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Indigenous community members gather in Deiyai regency in Papua to continue their protest against racial abuse of Papuans on Aug. 26. (JP/Courtesy of Dominikus Surabut)
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wo civilians and one soldier died during a clash between protesters and security forces at a rally in Deiyai Regency, Papua, on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Papua Police.
The confirmation came as reports from two eye witnesses said six protesters had died and at least three others were injured by shots fired by security forces as violence broke out.
Papua Police spokesperson Comr. Anton Ampang said in a statement on Wednesday evening that the protests in front of the Deiyai regent’s office initially started peacefully.
“Then at 2 p.m., suddenly around 1,000 people armed with arrows, spears and machetes joined the protesters and started to dance the Waita dance [a traditional war dance] and threw rocks at the security forces,” Anton said.
Anton claimed that the crowd suddenly attacked military personnel who were in a car next to the regent’s office, leading security forces to try to stop them but the mob resisted using sharp weapons.
“The crowd shot arrows and threw rocks at security personnel in front of the Deiyai regent’s office and there were even sounds of gunfire from the direction of the crowd, leading security personnel to shoot at the attackers,” he said.
One civilian died from a bullet wound and another died from an arrow to the stomach, Anton said. One soldier died from an arrow wound, while another soldier and four policemen were injured by arrows.
