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International group behind deadly clashes in Papua: Government
According to Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto, Monday’s unrest was controlled by the National Committee of West Papua (KNPB), which is affiliated to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), led by UK-based Papuan exile Benny Wenda.
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Papuan protesters ride a truck as they gather at a university in provincial capital Jayapura on September 23, 2019, as fresh protests break out in the restive region. - Fresh unrest broke out in Indonesia's restive Papua region on September 23 as protesters burned down a government office and other buildings in Wamena city, according to an AFP reporter. (AFP/Faisal Narwawan)
T
he government has claimed that the deadly clashes in Jayapura and Wamena, Papua, on Monday were orchestrated by an international organization aiming to attract global attention to the province.
According to Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto, Monday’s unrest was controlled by the National Committee of West Papua (KNPB), which is affiliated to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), led by UK-based Papuan exile Benny Wenda.
“The free-Papua movement seems to be showing its existence by provoking the public to commit anarchy, which only harmed themselves,” Wiranto said, adding that the separatist groups’ motive was to lure security forces into committing human rights violations against protesters.
Separatist figures would then raise the issue at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States, Wiranto further claimed. He was addressing local and international journalists during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday.
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, who also attended the press conference, echoed Wiranto’s statement, saying that both clashes in Jayapura and Wamena had been coordinated by the ULMWP’s local wings, including the KNPB.
“The unrest was designed to get international attention during the annual UN General Assembly, which started [on Monday],” Tito said.
Both officials assured that the situation in Papua was currently under control and the authorities would soon take rehabilitation measures in affected areas. Several public facilities, including the Jayawijaya regent’s office and shop-houses, were set ablaze in Wamena. Dozens of vehicles were reportedly destroyed by protesters during the turmoil.
