Indonesia: Anarchic group in Papua linked to international organizations

National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian (Antara)

Jakarta: Indonesian police has accused foreign organizations of playing a role in the unrest that hit Papua and West Papua.

National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian said the groups that “committed anarchy in Papua and West Papua have links to foreign organizations.”

“Yes. We know that these groups have links to international networks,” General Karnavian said on Sunday.

“Therefore, the National Police is currently coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Intelligence Agency to deal with the problem.”

The police said it had identified provocateurs allegedly ignited the unrest in Papua.

“Those responsible for provoking unrest in Papua and West Papua have been identified and are being investigated. If they are proved to be involved in the riots, they will be prosecuted,” he said, quoted by Indonesia’s ANTARA news agency.

The police chief said the situation in Papua was now under control.

Around 6,000 joint military and police personnel were deployed in several areas, including Jayapura, Nabire, Paniai, Deiyai, Manokwari, Sorong and Fakfak, to secure the easternmost Indonesian provinces.

The Indonesian police earlier deployed 300 Mobile Brigade Unit personnel to Deiyai, Paniai, and Jayapura following the unrest in Deiyai District that killed two civilians and an army soldier, Karnavian said.

He expressed concern over the incident on August 28.

“We deplored the incident in Deiyai in which an army soldier was killed. He was killed in the line of action while guarding military weapons in a car. He was fatally struck by an arrow. His rifle was taken,” Karnavian said. Five military and police personnel were injured in the incident.

According to ANTRA, the police accused a group from Paniai of triggering the unrest, explaining that they were not in the same group with other demonstrators who had earlier staged a peaceful protest before the local district office,