Wamena

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Wamena
Town (District) and regency seat
Wamena, Papua, Indonesia 2019 09.jpg
Wamena in 2019
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Wamena
Indonesia Highland Papua location map.svg
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Wamena
Location in Highland Papua
Indonesia Western New Guinea location map.png
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Wamena
Location in Indonesian Papua
Indonesia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Wamena
Location in Indonesia
Coordinates: 4°5′51″S138°57′04″E / 4.09750°S 138.95111°E / -4.09750; 138.95111
CountryFlag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Province Highland Papua
Regency Jayawijaya Regency
Population
 (mid 2023 estimate)
 • Total66,080
  [1]

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; [2] the official estimate in mid 2023 was 66,080. [1] 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 several related ethnic groups, the most prominent of which are the Dani, Lani, and Yali.

Contents

The town is also home to the Persiwa Wamena football team, which played in the Indonesian Super League until the early 2010s.

History

As far as the outside world was concerned, the discovery of the Baliem Valley, where Wamena is located, and the unexpected presence of its large agricultural population was made by Richard Archbold’s third zoological expedition to New Guinea in 1938. On 21 June an aerial reconnaissance flight southwards from Hollandia (now Jayapura) found what the expedition called the ‘Grand Valley’. Since it was almost completely cut off from the outside world, the area was spared by the fighting for the control of New Guinea during World War II. The town itself was founded by the Dutch in 1956, as one of the last towns founded during their presence in Western New Guinea. [3] Since then the valley has gradually been opened up to a limited amount of tourism.

In 2003, during what would be called afterward the Wamena incident, an unidentified mob led by the Free Papua Movement raided the Indonesian Army's armoury of the town, killing two Indonesian soldiers and stealing several assault rifles. [4] [5] Reprisals were harsh, affecting 25 villages, displacing around 7,000 villagers, and killing 50 in the process, torture and destruction of properties by the Indonesian army were also reported. [6] [7]

During the 2019 Papua protests, several government buildings were destroyed by an angry mob, after which the police and the military retaliated, leaving 16 civilians killed and 65 injured. According to local authorities, the particular set of protests was triggered by a separate racism incident within the city. A Kompas correspondent in Wamena reported that gunshots sounded across the city and that civilians primarily migrants were taking shelter in police stations, military bases, [8] local Papuan homes, and churches. [9] Out of the 16 civilians killed, 13 had come from outside the province, and most deaths occurred as they were trapped in buildings torched by the angry mob. [10] Later independence investigation by The Jakarta Post and local media Tabloid Jubi, revealed civilian victims were likely to be higher than official counts. Perpetrators were likely not local Wamenan and were too old to be students even though wearing high school uniforms. Racism incidents that was claimed to have happened in Wamena and spread through social media are also likely to be misinformation or even disinformation. [9]

Responding to the protests, the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology reactivated the internet blackout in Wamena. [11] Owing to the rioting and unrest, around 15,000 civilians were evacuated from Wamena, with a further 1,726 internally displaced within the town in early October. [12] Going the opposite direction, around 2,000 Papuan students returned from other cities across Indonesia to their home towns and cities, reporting a feeling of intimidation and danger. [13]

On 23 February 2023, around ten civilians were killed in a riot arising from a kidnapping accusation. [14]

Climate

Wamena features a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af), albeit a relatively mild version due to its high altitude.

Climate data for Wamena (2004–2020)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)26.0
(78.8)		25.9
(78.6)		26.1
(79.0)		26.0
(78.8)		26.3
(79.3)		25.5
(77.9)		24.9
(76.8)		25.5
(77.9)		25.7
(78.3)		26.3
(79.3)		26.2
(79.2)		26.3
(79.3)		25.9
(78.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)15.9
(60.6)		16.2
(61.2)		15.8
(60.4)		16.1
(61.0)		15.9
(60.6)		15.3
(59.5)		15.0
(59.0)		14.7
(58.5)		15.1
(59.2)		15.5
(59.9)		15.7
(60.3)		16.0
(60.8)		15.6
(60.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)178.7
(7.04)		178.2
(7.02)		213.3
(8.40)		249.8
(9.83)		122.9
(4.84)		133.5
(5.26)		117.1
(4.61)		110.3
(4.34)		138.1
(5.44)		143.0
(5.63)		162.9
(6.41)		166.5
(6.56)		1,914.3
(75.38)
Average precipitation days15.615.718.418.913.515.114.613.815.315.415.617.2189.1
Source: Meteomanz [15]

Economy

A market in Wamena. Pasar Wamena.jpg
A market in Wamena.

Wamena claims a broader variety of fresh fruits and vegetables than other regions in Papua. On early 6 June 2013, a modern market was built in the town center to allow traditional farmers to sell their harvests at a proper price. [16]

Transport

Wamena Airport old building. WMX Wamena Airport.jpg
Wamena Airport old building.

Because of its relatively isolated location, the main form of access to the area is air travel. The town and the surrounding valley are served by the only Wamena Airport, which can accommodate the TNI's Hercules airplanes. Dimonim Air, Trigana Air, Aviastar Mandiri, Susi Air, Merpati and Wings Air serve the airport. The airport was razed by fire on 26 September 2011; all buildings including the departure and arrival terminals were engulfed by fire. [17]

Parts of Trans-Papua Highway is passing Wamena, linking the town by road with cities across Papua such as Jayapura.

Health

The largely Papuan town is densely settled and has extreme rates of HIV infection, with a claim of 5,100 cases recorded by Antara. [18] On 16 June 2015, Jayawijaya regional secretary Yohanis Walilo rectified the total HIV cases to 4,521 HIV cases. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papua (province)</span> Province of Indonesia

Papua is a province of Indonesia, comprising the northern coast of Western New Guinea together with island groups in Cenderawasih Bay to the west. It roughly follows the borders of Papuan customary region of Tabi Saireri. It is bordered by nation of Papua New Guinea to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the north, Cenderawasih Bay to the west, and the provinces of Central Papua and Highland Papua to the south. The province also shares maritime boundaries with Palau in the Pacific. Following the splitting off of twenty regencies to create the three new provinces of Central Papua, Highland Papua, and South Papua on 30 June 2022, the residual province is divided into eight regencies and one city (kota), the latter being the provincial capital of Jayapura. The province has a large potential in natural resources, such as gold, nickel, petroleum, etc. Papua, along with five other Papuan provinces, has a higher degree of autonomy level compared to other Indonesian provinces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayapura</span> Capital and largest city of Papua, Indonesia

Jayapura is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of Papua. It is situated on the northern coast of New Guinea island and covers an area of 940.0 km2 (362.9 sq mi). The city borders the Pacific Ocean and Yos Sudarso Bay to the north, the country of Papua New Guinea to the east, Keerom Regency to the south, and Jayapura Regency to the west.

<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 an independence movement based on Western New Guinea, seeking secession of the territory currently under Indonesian administration. The territory is currently divided into six Indonesian 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">Dani people</span> Ethnic group of Western New Guinea

The Dani are an ethnic group from the Central Highlands of Western New Guinea in Baliem Valley, Highland Papua, Indonesia. Around 100,000 people live in the Baliem Valley, consisting of representatives of the Dani tribes in the lower and upper parts of the valley each 20,000 and 50,000 in the middle part. The areas west of the Baliem Valley are inhabited by approx 180,000, representatives of the Lani people, incorrectly called "Western Dani". All inhabitants of Baliem Valley and the surrounding areas are often called Dani hence they are also sometimes conflated with other highland tribes such as Lani in the west; Walak in the north; Nduga, Mek, and Yali in the south and east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dortheys Hiyo Eluay International Airport</span> Airport in Papua, Indonesia

Dortheys Hiyo Eluay International Airport, also known as Sentani International Airport is an airport serving Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, Indonesia, on the island of New Guinea. It is located in the town (kelurahan) of Sentani, approximately 40 km from downtown Jayapura; the name 'Sentani' is taken from Lake Sentani nearby. It is the easternmost airport in Indonesia, the main hub, and the largest airport on the island of New Guinea. On 14 October 2019, the management of the airport was taken over by PT Angkasa Pura.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baliem Valley</span>

The Baliem Valley is a valley of the Central Highlands in Western New Guinea, specifically in the province of Highland Papua, Indonesia. The main town in the valley is Wamena, which lies on the Baliem River. The valley is about 80 km in length by 20 km in width and lies at an altitude of about 1,600–1,700 metres (5,200–5,600 ft), with a population of over 200,000.

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Trigana Air is an airline based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayawijaya Regency</span> Regency in Papua, Indonesia

Jayawijaya Regency is one of the regencies (kabupaten) in the Indonesian province of Highland Papua. It occupies an area of 13,925.31 km2 in the Baliem Valley, situated in the central highlands of the province. It had a population of 196,085 at the 2010 Census, and 269,553 at the 2020 Census; the official estimate as of mid-2023 was 282,497. Its regency seat is the town of Wamena.

Ilaga is the name of a small town and a farming valley in Central Papua, Indonesia, with an elevation of 2,286 m (7,500 ft). It is also the capital of a government district (kecamatan) of the same name, and of the newly created (2008) Puncak Regency. Most of the residents of the area belong to the Lani tribe. It has a small airport and a tiny community of non-Papuan traders and government officials from other parts of Indonesia. A river of the same name runs through the valley, and is a tributary of the Ilorong. The valley lies about midway between the Enarotali and Baliem valleys.

The Baliem River is a river in the Highland Papua and South Papua provinces of Western New Guinea, Indonesia. It is the largest tributary of the Pulau River, formerly called the Eilanden River. With a total length of 414.2 km (257.4 mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wamena Airport</span> Indonesian Airport

Wamena Airport is an airport serving the town of Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, Highland Papua, Indonesia. The airport also serves the neighboring Lanny Jaya Regency and Tolikara Regency. It is currently the only airport in the highland region of Papua that can accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and C-130 Hercules.

Lokale Cave is a cave in Papua, Indonesia. The cave is in the village Lokale Woslimo, Baliem Valley, Jayawijaya, Papua.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wempi Wetipo</span> Indonesian politician

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

References

  1. 1 2 Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024, Kabupaten Jayawijaya Dalam Angka 2024 (Katalog-BPS 1102001.9501)
  2. ↑ Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
  3. ↑ Martin Gostelow, James Hardy (2002). This Way, Indonesia. Hunter Publishing. p.48. ISBN   2-8845-2096-1
  4. ↑ "West Papua: Police, Military involved in Papua Abuses". The Jakarta Post . Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization. 9 August 2004. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  5. ↑ "Komnas HAM Temukan Pelanggaran HAM Berat di Papua". Tempo (in Indonesian). 2 September 2004. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  6. ↑ "Gov't Must Address Policy Miscalculations on Papua: Report". Jakarta Globe. 8 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  7. ↑ "Dynamics of Conflict and Displacement in Papua, Indonesia" (PDF). Refugee Studies Centre. 2006. p. 44. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  8. ↑ Suwandi, Dhias (23 September 2019). Gabrillin, Abba (ed.). "16 Warga Tewas dan 65 Terluka Saat Kerusuhan Pecah di Wamena, Papua Halaman all". KOMPAS (in Indonesian). Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  9. 1 2 Mambor V.; Bachyul S. (26 November 2019). "Wamena investigation: What the government is not telling us". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "Violent Protests in Papua Leave at Least 20 Dead". The New York Times. 23 September 2019. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  11. ↑ "Rusuh Wamena, Kominfo Kembali Blokir Akses Internet di Papua". CNN Indonesia (in Indonesian). 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  12. ↑ "Wamena disebut mulai pulih, sejumlah pengungsi 'enggan kembali'". BBC (in Indonesian). 8 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  13. ↑ "Ribuan mahasiswa Papua eksodus: 'Kami pulang bukan untuk kembali'". BBC (in Indonesian). 26 September 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  14. ↑ "Indonesia tightens security in Papua after nine killed in riot" . Reuters. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  15. ↑ "SYNOP/BUFR observations. Data by months". Meteomanz. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  16. ↑ Bustami, Rizal (24 June 2013). "John Wempi Wetipo Resmikan Wamena Mall". #PapuaUS - Papua Untuk Semua (in Indonesian). Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  17. ↑ "Fire razes Wamena Airport". The Jakarta Post. 26 September 2011. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011.
  18. ↑ "5,100 HIV/AIDS cases detected in Wamena | The Jakarta Post". Archived from the original on 20 May 2015.
  19. ↑ "Jayawijaya regency clarifies high HIV prevalence". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 3 July 2022.

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