Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said in a press conference on Monday that 835 students studying in Java, Sumatra and Maluku islands had returned to their hometowns in Papua. The move came following heightened protests in Surabaya, East Java.

“The number is quite high. It happened because there has been provocation and misinformation has spread. There is a rumor that if they keep studying in those cities that their safety will be at risk. And that’s fake news,” Wiranto said on Monday.

Wiranto also said the Papua’s People Assembly (MRP), which previously called on Papuan students living outside the provinces to return home, had withdrawn the statement and sent out a new message asking Papuan students to remain in cities outside Papua and to continue their studies as usual.

The minister also said the Indonesian Military (TNI) would provide two aircraft to help students return to their places of study.

MRP chairman Timotius Murib called for Papuan students to return to their campuses outside the province.

“[We call for] Papuan students who have gone back home to Papua to return to the cities where they are pursuing their education as cultural representatives of Papuan natives who can live harmoniously with all elements of this country,” he said as reported bytribunnews.com.

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