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Uneasy calm hovers over West Papua

Deadly riots broke out yesterday in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, shattering a recent calm that followed an outburst of violence caused by alleged racism. This month, Indonesia's government - grappling with the mid-August violence in Papua and West Papua provinces - flew in journalists from Jakarta to the West Papua provincial capital of Manokwari to show that life was back to normal.

Papuan students and others from the province rallying near Indonesia's presidential palace in Jakarta on Aug 28 in a protest against racism and for independence for their region. Buildings on fire after hundreds of demonstrators marched near Papua's
Hundreds of people gathering at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Jakarta at an event on Sept 1 to promote peace in Papua. PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, LINDA YULISMAN
Papuan students and others from the province rallying near Indonesia's presidential palace in Jakarta on Aug 28 in a protest against racism and for independence for their region. Buildings on fire after hundreds of demonstrators marched near Papua's
Above: Ethnic leaders signing a peace declaration at Borarsi Field in Manokwari, West Papua, on Sept 11. PHOTOS: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, LINDA YULISMAN
Papuan students and others from the province rallying near Indonesia's presidential palace in Jakarta on Aug 28 in a protest against racism and for independence for their region. Buildings on fire after hundreds of demonstrators marched near Papua's
Papuan students and others from the province rallying near Indonesia's presidential palace in Jakarta on Aug 28 in a protest against racism and for independence for their region. PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Papuan students and others from the province rallying near Indonesia's presidential palace in Jakarta on Aug 28 in a protest against racism and for independence for their region. Buildings on fire after hundreds of demonstrators marched near Papua's
Buildings on fire after hundreds of demonstrators marched near Papua's biggest city Jayapura on Aug 29. The protesters also torched a regional assembly building and hurled rocks at shops and hotels. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Top: Hundreds of people gathering at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Jakarta at an event on Sept 1 to promote peace in Papua. Above: Ethnic leaders signing a peace declaration at Borarsi Field in Manokwari, West Papua, on Sept 11.
Vendors in Sanggeng market in Manokwari, West Papua province. Activities in the market are back to normal, following last month's protests. But observers warn that unrest can flare up again if issues are not tackled. ST PHOTO: LINDA YULISMAN
Papuan students and others from the province rallying near Indonesia's presidential palace in Jakarta on Aug 28 in a protest against racism and for independence for their region. Buildings on fire after hundreds of demonstrators marched near Papua's
Torched vehicles after a riot in Jayapura, Papua province. A decades-long insurgency has prevailed in the Papuan region, and the Indonesian armed forces have been widely criticised for alleged human rights violations there. PHOTO: REUTERS
Linda Yulisman Indonesia Correspondent In Manokwari (West Papua)
Updated
Sep 25, 2019, 10:40 PM
Published
Sep 24, 2019, 05:00 AM
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An uneasy calm hovers over Indonesia's two eastern-most provinces of Papua and West Papua following violent demonstrations last month in which five people died.

Life on the main streets of Manokwari, the West Papua provincial capital, had returned to normal when The Straits Times visited the area on Sept 11 and 12, about three weeks after the incidents in Surabaya, Java, that sparked the unrest.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 24, 2019, with the headline Uneasy calm hovers over West Papua. Subscribe

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