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Schools, businesses shut in Wamena as thousands flee town
Jayawijaya Regent Jhon Richard Banua said he had ordered the local education agency on Monday to gather all school principals and instruct them to resume school activities in the region.
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Some shops in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency opened on Sept. 26, but most are still closed. (Antara/Iwan Adisaputra)
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ocal authorities are hoping that daily activities will return to normal soon following a deadly riot in Wamena, Papua, that left at least 33 people dead and caused thousands to flee their homes.
However, almost all schools and most shops remain closed following the riots.
Jayawijaya Regent Jhon Richard Banua said he had ordered the local education agency on Monday to gather all school principals and instruct them to resume school activities in the region.
He added that Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police personnel would help fill vacant teacher posts, in addition to teachers from the Smart Indonesia program. Schools and community health centers located in Wamena would be expected to resume activities as soon as possible, Banua said.
School principal of SMA 1 Wamena state senior high school Yosep Wibosono said that schools were forced to close after the riot.
"Many of the teachers were traumatized because they had directly experienced the riot, in which many senior and junior high school students were also involved. So, many of them are seeking safety in various places in and outside Wamena," Yosep said.
He said that many teachers had asked to be moved to Jayapura or outside Papua for a temporary respite, saying that they would return to Wamena once school activities resumed.
