Clashes in Indonesia’s Papua as hundreds protest military presence
JAKARTA, April 27 (Reuters) – Students and civilians in Indonesian rebel-hit Papua clashed with law enforcement personnel on Monday during a protest attended by hundreds of residents demanding the withdrawal of military personnel from the area, a police official said.
It was claimed that the military operation carried out in the region earlier this month resulted in the death of 15 people, including women and children.
The operation was carried out against armed separatists who have sought independence for the resource-rich Papua region since 1969, when Indonesia brought it under control in a United Nations-monitored vote after more than 60 years of Dutch colonial rule.
The country’s human rights watchdog confirmed the deaths last week and called on the government to review operations in the region. The army has not yet acknowledged losses.
About 800 protesters marched in three locations in Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, on Monday before gathering in the city centre, Papua provincial police spokesman Cahyo Sukarnito said.
Speaking to Reuters, Cahyo acknowledged that deaths during recent military operations had sparked local anger and called on the government to withdraw the army from Papua’s six provinces and ensure an end to decades of violence.
Cahyo said tear gas and water cannons were used at one location after protesters threw rocks at police. He said five police personnel were injured but no injuries were reported among protesters.
Footage from local media Tribun Papua showed police personnel in protective suits approaching protesters with batons.
After the clashes subsided, the demonstrations continued peacefully and many regional MPs came to the site to meet the protesters and hear their demands.
Papua is home to the world’s second-largest gold and copper mine, Grasberg, which is jointly owned by the Indonesian government and US mining giant Freeport.
(Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Editing by Gibran Peshimam and David Stanway)
