Indonesia Tightens Security in Papua After 9 Killed in Riot

JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian safety forces tightened safety within the city of Wamena within the easternmost area of Papua, after 9 individuals had been killed throughout a riot triggered by rumours a toddler had been kidnapped, an official mentioned on Friday.

More than 200 safety personnel, together with police and the army, had been deployed to comprise the state of affairs after 14 individuals had additionally been damage in Thursday’s riot, police mentioned.

The state of affairs remained tense, however there had been no additional violence, Papua province police spokesperson Ignatius Benny Ady Prabowo mentioned by phone.

The riot had began after locals, angered by rumours a few youngster kidnapping, began throwing rocks at Wamena police station the place a person accused of abducting a six-year-old was detained, he mentioned.

Police summoned the kid’s dad and mom to make clear that she was protected, however that didn’t stem the violence and different buildings had been set ablaze within the space, he added.

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Security forces responded by opening fireplace, killing 9 individuals and wounding 14, mentioned Prabowo.

Tensions have been working excessive in Papua, which is likely one of the poorest, most underdeveloped components of the nation, after separatist rebels kidnapped a New Zealand pilot.

The Indonesian army has mentioned it was ready to conduct a “regulation enforcement operation” as a final resort to free the pilot if negotiations didn’t safe his launch.

Separatists have waged a low-level battle for independence for the reason that resource-rich area, as soon as ruled by the Netherlands, was introduced below Indonesian management following a controversial United Nations backed referendum in 1969.

(Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Editing by Ed Davies)