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Fear grips Wamena after deadly riots
Tension remains in Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya regency in Papua, following deadly riots that paralyzed a part of the city and left more than 30 people dead.
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Buildings are on fire after protests broke out in Wamena on Sept. 23. (AFP/Vina Rumbewas)
Tension remains in Wamena, the capital of Jayawijaya regency in Papua, following deadly riots that paralyzed a part of the city and left more than 30 people dead.
Thousands of residents have fled the affected area, and thousands more are ready to leave amid fear of further violence.
Roughly 6,700 residents are currently put up at a number of evacuation sites in Wamena, including at the Indonesian Military (TNI) headquarters, while some 2,670 others have fled the city with the help of the Air Force.
The commander of the Silas Papare Air Base in Jayapura, Air Cdre. Tri Bowo Budi Santoso, said another 10,000 people had signed to be airlifted out.
“We expect to finish [the mission] in the next three or four days,” Bowo said as quoted by kompas.com, adding that the Air Force operated two Hercules planes to transfer the people to Jayapura.
The commander of the Jayawijaya Military District Command, Lt. Col. Candra Dianto, said separately that the evacuees urgently needed supplies, including staple food, clothes, sanitary pads and diapers.
