Indonesian Security Forces: 19 Civilians And A Soldier Killed During Rioting In Two Towns In Papua

Reuters: Indonesia says 20 killed, scores hurt in fresh unrest in Papua

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian security forces said on Monday that 19 civilians and a soldier had been killed during rioting in two towns in Papua, in an escalation of violence in a region that in recent weeks has seen its most serious civil unrest in years over perceived ethnic racial discrimination.

Protests convulsed the country’s easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua, on the island of New Guinea - collectively known as Papua - for two weeks in late August. The sometimes violent unrest erupted after a group of Papuan students in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second city on the island of Java, were taunted and attacked by a mob chanting racial epithets over accusations they had desecrated a national flag.

In the latest violence, a spokesman for military operations in Papua said 16 civilians were killed and 65 hurt in the town of Wamena, where protesters had set buildings ablaze.

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More News On The Growing Unrest In Papua

20 killed, 70 hurt in protests in Indonesia’s Papua province -- AP
At least 20 killed, dozens injured in Papua unrest: Indonesia military. -- France 24
At least 20 dead in protests in Indonesia's West Papua -- Al Jazeera
One soldier dead as Papua violence erupts again, with buildings set alight and gunshots heard in towns of Wamena, Jayapura -- DW
Violent Protests in Papua Leave at Least 20 Dead -- The New York Times
At Least 20 Killed as Indonesia’s Papua Rocked by Fresh Violence -- Bloomberg

Indonesia Cuts The Internet And Deploys 1,000 Soldiers To West Papua To Quell Unrest

The Independent: Papua protests: Indonesia cuts off internet to entire province and deploys more than 1,000 soldiers as riots escalate

Thousands take to streets as government buildings set on fire amid racism allegations

Indonesia has deployed more than 1,000 soldiers and blocked internet access in Papua where unrest has swelled over authorities’ alleged mistreatment of students.

Thousands of protesters in the province and in neighbouring West Papua have taken to the streets, with some setting fire to a prison, government buildings and offices.

Jakarta deployed the soldiers in an attempt to stop the riots, which have been fuelled by claims of racial discrimination against Papuans.

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More News On The Unrest In West Papua

West Papua protests: Indonesia deploys 1,000 soldiers to quell unrest, cuts internet -- The Guardian
Indonesia blocks internet in West Papua as protest rages -- Al Jazeera
Indonesia deploys 1,000 police to West Papua to quell protests -- CNN
Indonesia blocks internet in Papua amid unrest -- DW
Jakarta scrambles to bring order to Papua -- Jakarta Post
Indonesia deploys troops to Papua as protestors set towns alight -- ABC News Online
Why are there violent clashes in Papua and West Papua? -- Ben Doherty, The Guardian

West Papua Protests Continue Despite Claims From Indonesian Police That They Have Regained Control

ABC News Online: West Papua protests continue despite Indonesian police claiming to have regained control

Indonesian police say they have regained control of West Papua after sending close to 1,000 extra officers to the province, which erupted into destructive turmoil days ago.

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Papua and West Papua in the past few days, torching tyres and government buildings as well as damaging an airport in Indonesia's easternmost territory.

The protests were believed to have been sparked by racist comments made towards Papuan students in Surabaya over allegations of a damaged flagpole over the weekend.

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More News On The Unrest In West Papua

Indonesia deploys more troops as Papua hit by fresh unrest -- AFP
Indonesia deploys troops to West Papua as protests spread -- Al Jazeera
Papua unrest: Indonesia police fire tear gas amid protests -- BBC
Explained: what has led to the violent riots in Indonesia’s Papua? -- Amy Chew, SCMP

Indonesia's West Papua Protests Turn Violent Over Accusations Of Discrimination

CNN: Protesters set fire to a parliament building in West Papua as demonstrations spread

Thousands of protesters in the provincial capital of Indonesia's West Papua have set fire to a local government building amid widespread demonstrations sparked by alleged police discrimination against Papuan students.

The Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua have for decades been wracked by a long-simmering and occasionally violent separatist movement, with flare-ups common.

On Monday morning, crowds marched through Manokwari, the capital of West Papua, setting fire to the parliament building, cars, and tree tires.

Videos on social media show the parliament building billowing black smoke, and deafening chants from large crowds on the streets -- a rare public protest in the highly militarized region. Footage shows protesters bearing signs that read, "Stop racism." Police in Manokwari responded to the protests Monday with tear gas.

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WNU Editor: The riots started after this .... West Papuan students barricaded, detained and tear-gassed by police on Indonesian 'freedom' day (ABC News Online).

More News On Today's Riots In West Papua

Protesters burn parliament building in Indonesia's Papua -- AP
Indonesia Papua: Local parliament torched in Manokwari unrest -- BBC
Thousands riot in Papua, parliament building torched -- AFP
Indonesia's West Papua protests turn violent -- Al Jazeera
Fiery protests erupt in Indonesia's West Papua region -- Al Jazeera
Indonesia president urges calm after violent protests in Papua cities -- Channel News Asia
Police regain control in Papua after clashes, government buildings torched -- SBS News