2023 Wamena riot

Last updated

2023 Wamena riot
Date23 February 2023
Location
Sinakma, Wamena, Highland Papua, Indonesia
Parties
Rioters
Casualties and losses
12 total killed (rioters and non-rioters) [1]
20+ civilians and rioters injured [2]
18 police and soldiers injured [3]

On 23 February 2023 (UTC+9), a riot broke out in Sinakma, Wamena, Highland Papua when a crowd of Papuans attacked Indonesian security personnel following the arrest of two Bataks merchants accused of child kidnapping. In the ensuing clash, a number of buildings were damaged, with twelve civilians and rioters killed including both merchants. Tens of security personnel and civilians were also injured.

Contents

Background

Tensions between Indonesian authorities and Papuan locals in the highland regions of Papua had been running high in early 2023, especially following the Nduga hostage crisis. [4] The town of Wamena had previously seen large-scale rioting in 2019 where tens of civilians were killed, mostly non-Papuans. [5] Indonesian authorities had accused armed groups affiliated with the separatist National Committee for West Papua of being behind the 2019 riot. [6] A more immediate cause was the rise of child kidnapping rumors in social media all over Indonesia in early 2023, with a woman accused of child kidnapping being burned alive by a mob in Sorong. She was later proven innocent. [7] [8]

Course

The riot occurred on 23 February 2023. According to local human rights activist Theo Hasegem, the riot broke out after a misunderstanding between two Batak merchants and a local Papuan child in the Sinakma Market resulted in the merchants being accused of kidnapping. Local community leader Gibson Kogoya remarked that the merchants had asked for the child to hop on a pickup truck he used as a kiosk when the child wanted to purchase items, but the child perceived this to be a kidnapping attempt and fled. Accounts from the Indonesian authorities noted that locals had halted the merchants and brought them to the police station, where the involved parties clarified the situation. [5] [9] This clarification did not happen in the police station as intended, but on the street near to the location where the alleged incident happened. [10]

While the merchants were in police custody, an angry crowd of Papuans gathered, [5] [9] at around 12:30 local time (05:30 UTC). [11] Indonesian authorities claimed that a chain message accusing the police of protecting child kidnappers had spread through WhatsApp. [12] When the crowd demanded that the police release the merchants for public questioning, the police refused. Tensions continued to rise and the merchant was evacuated in a riot control vehicle. In an attempt to disperse the crowd, security personnel utilized tear gas, batons and warning shots. The crowd became agitated and a number of shophouses belonging to Batak were set on fire. Clashes then occurred, which resulted in a number of deaths and injuries. [5] [9] Both of the accused Batak merchants, Albert Sitorus and Ramot Siagian, were killed during the rioting. [13] It was later reported that fifteen buildings were torched during the rioting. [14]

Aftermath

In the aftermath of the rioting, Indonesian security forces deployed 200 additional personnel to secure the area, [4] including a Mobile Brigade company. [15] By the following day, the situation was described by authorities as "conducive", with no further violence reported. [4] [1] They also reported that ten civilians had been killed, while 18 police officers or soldiers had been injured by either arrows or thrown rocks. [3] Out of the ten civilians initially reported killed, either seven [9] or eight were reportedly rioters shot by security forces, the rest being non-Papuan civilians killed by rioters. [3] Hasegem reported that nine Papuans were killed, [5] eight of whom were shot. He further noted that most of the killed Papuans had been shot in the head or neck. [16] By 24 February, authorities had confirmed twelve deaths: Sitorus and Siagian, along with ten Papuans. [1] At least 23 injuries among civilians and rioters were recorded. [2]

Due to the incident, schools in the town were closed the following day. [17] Thousands of civilians took refuge in the local military and police headquarters or places of worship. [5] The police chief for Papua, Mathius D. Fakhiri  [ id ], initiated an evaluation on the conduct of local police units, and requested that police use a "soft" approach in responding to locals due to heightened tensions. [18] The ten Papuans killed were buried on 25 February at the Sinakma Public Cemetery. The previous day, bodies of Sitorus and Siagian had been flown to Jayapura and later to Medan. [1] [19]

On 26 February, authorities arrested 13 individuals suspected of inciting the riots. [20] They were released two days later. [21] Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD later stated that the riot had nothing to do with the ongoing separatist movement, and had been purely incited by the kidnapping rumor. [22] The Tempo newspaper in an editorial blamed the security forces' "violent" approach in Papua for causing the riot. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Papua Movement</span> 1963–present separatist movement in Indonesian New Guinea

The Free Papua Movement or Free Papua Organization is a name given to independence movement based on Western New Guinea, seeking the secession of the territory currently administered by Indonesia as the provinces of Central Papua, Highland Papua, Papua, South Papua, Southwest Papua, and West Papua, also formerly known as Papua, Irian Jaya and West Irian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wamena</span> Capital of the Papua Highlands, Indonesia

Wamena, also known as the District of Wamena, is a large town in the Western New Guinea region of Indonesia. It also serves as the seat of Jayawijaya Regency. It is the largest town in the province of Highland Papua, located in the Baliem Valley and had a population of 64,967 in the 2020 Census; the official estimate in mid 2022 was 65,766. Wamena is the urban centre of a rural area housing Highland Papua's highest concentration of population, with over 300,000 people inhabiting the Baliem Valley and surrounding areas. These people belong to a number of related ethnic groups, the most prominent of which are the Dani, Lani and Yali.

Mohamad, Ardyan (2016-03-31). "Filipina tolak TNI ikut bebaskan WNI disandera Abu Sayyaf". merdeka.com. Retrieved 2023-05-25.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Indonesia Mujahideen</span> Indonesian Islamist militant organization

The East Indonesia Mujahideen was an Islamist militant group operating out of Poso, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The group was led by Abu Wardah until he was killed by Indonesian police on 18 July 2016. After the death of Santoso, the group was led by Ali Kalora until he was killed on 18 September 2021. The group has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Indonesian Air Force C-130 crash</span>

On 18 December 2016, an Indonesian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules crashed on Mount Lisuwa while approaching Wamena Airport in Wamena, Papua, Indonesia. The aircraft, which was flying a co-pilot training mission, was carrying twelve crew members of the Indonesian Air Force and one passenger. The aircraft was destroyed on impact; all thirteen occupants died.

2018 (MMXVIII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2018th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 18th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 9th year of the 2010s decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surabaya bombings</span> Terrorist attacks in Indonesia

The 2018 Surabaya bombings were a series of terrorist attacks that initially occurred on 13 May 2018 in three churches in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia and the capital of East Java province. The explosions occurred at Immaculate Saint Mary Catholic Church on Ngagel Madya Street; Indonesia Christian Church on Diponegoro Street; and Surabaya Central Pentecost Church on Arjuno Street. The first explosion took place at the SMTB Church; the second and third explosions followed within an hour.

2019 (MMXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2019th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 19th year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 10th and last year of the 2010s decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Papua protests</span> Series of protests by Papuans in Indonesian Papua

The 2019 Papua protests were a series of protests by Papuans in Indonesia that began on 19 August 2019 and mainly took place across Indonesian Papua region in response to the arrests of 43 Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java for alleged disrespect of the Indonesian flag. Many of the protests involved thousands of participants, and some grew from local protests in Surabaya to demanding an independence referendum for the whole region. In several locations, the protests turned into general riots, resulting in the destruction of government buildings in Wamena, Sorong and Jayapura. Clashes between protesters and police resulted in injuries, with over 30 people killed from both the clashes and the rioting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Ambon earthquake</span> Earthquake affecting Maluku, Indonesia

On 26 September 2019, a strong magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Seram Island in Maluku, Indonesia, near the provincial capital of Ambon. The earthquake struck at 07:46:44 Eastern Indonesia Time with a shallow depth of 18 km. The tremor could be felt throughout the island, with an intensity of very strong (VII) reportedly felt in the provincial capital of Ambon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super East Java derby</span> Match between two Indonesian football clubs

Super East Java derby is the name given in football rivalries to any match between two Indonesian football clubs: Arema (Galatama) and Persebaya Surabaya (Perserikatan). The fierce competition between both teams began in 1992 when Arema and Persebaya Surabaya were grouped together in 1992 Piala HUT Arema.

The 2003 Wamena incident involved a sweeping operation and forced relocation of civilians around the town of Wamena by the Indonesian Army and the Indonesian National Police following a raid on an armory. The operations lasted for around two months following the raid, displacing thousands of civilians and resulting in the deaths of around fifty civilians from various causes.

The 2006 Abepura incident was a clash between Papuan student protesters and Indonesian policemen and soldiers in the district of Abepura, Jayapura of Papua on 16 March 2006. The clashes killed four policemen and a soldier, and further injured tens of protesters.

2022 (MMXXII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2022nd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 22nd year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 3rd year of the 2020s decade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Highland Papua</span> Province with special status

Highland Papua is a province of Indonesia, which roughly follows the borders of Papuan customary region of Lano-Pago, shortened to La Pago. It covers an area of 51,213.34 km2 (19,773.58 sq mi) and had a population of 1,430,459 according to the official estimates as at mid 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster</span> Association football match disaster

On 1 October 2022, a fatal human crush occurred following an association football match at Kanjuruhan Stadium in Malang Regency, East Java, Indonesia. Following a loss by home side Arema to rivals Persebaya Surabaya, around 3,000 Arema supporters invaded the pitch. Police said the rioting supporters attacked the players and the team officials. The police attempted to protect the players and stop the riot but the crowds clashed with the security forces. In response, riot police units deployed tear gas, which triggered a stampede of people in the stadium trying to escape from the effects of the gas. A crush formed at an exit, resulting in fans being asphyxiated.

2023 (MMXXIII) is the current year, and is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 2023rd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 23rd year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 4th year of the 2020s decade.

The following is the broad timeline for major events in the Papua conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nduga hostage crisis</span> 2023 incident in Highland Papua, Indonesia

The Nduga hostage crisis began on 7 February 2023 when Free Papua Movement insurgents attacked a plane and took its pilot and all five passengers hostage. While the passengers were soon released, New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens remains in captivity.

In early 2023, rumours regarding child kidnappings across Indonesia triggered a series of mass hysteria and vigilante actions across the country. The rumours were mostly spread through WhatsApp, Facebook, and TikTok which, according to authorities, were mostly fake. The rumours resulted in injuries and fatalities in some places, with the most severe cases resulting in a riot in Wamena which killed twelve people; and in Sorong, where a woman was burned alive. In other places such as North Musi Rawas Regency, five men were injured after being beaten by a mob who accused them of kidnapping; and in Surabaya, where a mentally ill person was also beaten to death by a mob.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Wijaya, Stefani (24 February 2023). "Sudah Terkendali, Polri: Kondisi di Wamena Kondusif". Berita Satu (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 Batubara, Puteranegara (24 February 2023). "Aparat Gabungan Terus Bersiaga di Wamena Pasca-Kerusuhan Tewaskan 10 Orang". Okezone (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Purba, John Roy (24 February 2023). "Korban Kerusuhan Wamena: 10 Tewas, 18 Anggota TNI-Polri dan 14 Warga Luka". detiknews (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Indonesia tightens security in Papua after nine killed in riot". Reuters. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Noroyono, Bambang (24 February 2023). "Rusuh Wamena, 11 Dikabarkan Meninggal". Republika (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Mass Brawl and Riots in Wamena, Papua: The Sign of Separatist Crooks Maneuvre to Make "Color Revolution"". ANTARA News. 30 November 2019. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  7. ↑ Permana, Rakhmad Hidayatulloh (28 January 2023). "Rententan Isu Penculikan Anak di Berbagai Daerah yang Resahkan Warga". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  8. ↑ Nugroho, Johannes (12 February 2023). "Why Indonesians are panicking over child abduction rumours, and blaming the mentally ill". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Kerusuhan di Wamena dipicu isu penculikan anak: 10 korban meninggal – tujuh tewas karena tembakan". BBC News Indonesia (in Indonesian). 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  10. ↑ chualin [@yosua_wetapo] (23 February 2023). "Ini video kejadian awal yang berakhir dengan korban nyawa di Wamena.pengakuan anak dengan penculik.😱" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ↑ Afifa, Laila (24 February 2023). "Clash between Military-Police and Papuan People Kills 9". Tempo. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  12. ↑ Hisage, Arni (24 February 2023). Kurniawan, Endra (ed.). "Penyebab dan Kronologi Kerusuhan Wamena, Bermula dari Pesan Berantai Isu Penculikan Anak di WhatsApp". Tribunnews.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  13. ↑ Priyanto, Dedik (25 February 2023). Persada, Gading (ed.). "Pilu Istri yang Suami dan Adiknya Tewas Dituduh Penculik di Wamena: Bagaimana Nasib 2 Anak Kita?". KOMPAS (in Indonesian). Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  14. ↑ Simbolon, Huyogo (24 February 2023). "Kerusuhan Pecah di Wamena Dipicu Hoaks Penculikan Anak, 10 Meninggal Dunia". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  15. ↑ Apriyono, Ahmad (24 February 2023). "Polda Papua Kirim 1 Kompi Brimob ke Wamena Buntut Kerusuhan yang Dipicu Isu Penculikan Anak". liputan6.com (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  16. ↑ Purba, Jonh Roy; Mappiwali, Hermawan (24 February 2023). "Aktivis HAM Ungkap Korban Tewas Kerusuhan Wamena Alami Luka Tembak di Kepala". detiksulsel (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  17. ↑ Tarsi, Stefanus (24 February 2023). "Sekolah di Wamena Diliburkan Pasca Kerusuhan". Kabar Papua (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  18. ↑ "Kapolda Papua minta Propam evaluasi penanganan amuk massa di Wamena". Jubi (in Indonesian). 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  19. ↑ "Aparat keamanan diminta tangkap pelaku pembunuhan 2 warga di Wamena". Antara News Papua (in Indonesian). 24 February 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  20. ↑ Saputra, Eka Yudha (26 February 2023). "Polda Papua Tangkap 13 Orang Diduga Pemicu Kerusuhan Wamena". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  21. ↑ Saputra, Eka Yudha (28 February 2023). "Polda Papua Lepas 13 Orang yang Ditahan dalam Kerusuhan Wamena". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  22. ↑ Achmad, Nirmala Maulana (28 February 2023). Rastika, Icha (ed.). "Soal Kerusuhan di Wamena, Mahfud: Tak Ada Hubungannya dengan Separatisme, Murni Hoaks". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  23. ↑ "Gagap Menangani Kerusuhan Wamena". Tempo (in Indonesian). 2 March 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.