Jayapura back to normal after recent riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Calm returned yesterday to Irian Jaya capital of
\nJayapura after it was rocked by riots on Monday and a smaller-
\nscale disturbance on Wednesday, officials and residents said.<\/p>\n
"Activities have resumed and things are normal again.
\nHopefully schools will reopen (today)," Second Sgt. Rusmanto, an
\ninformation officer at the Trikora Military Command, told The
\nJakarta Post by phone yesterday.<\/p>\n
A woman living in a government employee housing complex in
\nAbepura district said her neighborhood was calm but tense.<\/p>\n
"Police and military officials are still patrolling the
\nstreets and housing complexes," she said.<\/p>\n
She said shops and schools were closed after a number of hand-
\nmade bombs were thrown into the neighborhood on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
"Fortunately, the bombs did not explode," she said.<\/p>\n
Budhi Setyanto, the director of the Jayapura office of the
\nLegal Aid Institute, told the Post that trading activities
\nresumed yesterday along the city's main streets and in makeshift
\ntents at the razed Abepura market.<\/p>\n
Rusmanto said 40 religious and tribal leaders had a three-hour
\nmeeting with Trikora Military Regional Command chief-of-staff
\nBrig. Gen. Johnny Lumintang on Wednesday night to discuss ways to
\nrestore peace.<\/p>\n
The leaders toured the city yesterday, asking the public to
\ncalm down.<\/p>\n
The military has arrested 89 people believed to have led the
\nriots which left four people dead on Monday, Antara reported. The
\nsuspects, believed to be separatists, will be charged with
\ninciting unrest.<\/p>\n
One of the four was arrested on Monday while tearing apart an
\nIndonesian flag. Another was grabbed while hoisting the flag of
\nthe Free Papua Movement, which has been fighting for a separate
\nstate in Irian Jaya, the news agency said.<\/p>\n
Thousands of youths went on a rampage shortly after the
\narrival of the body of Thomas Wapay Wainggai, an Irian separatist
\nleader who died in a Jakarta prison last week.<\/p>\n
Earlier reports said the crowd, including students from
\nCenderawasih University where Wainggai once taught, became angry
\nupon learning that his body was headed straight for his home in
\nJayapura, not enabling them to pay their last respects.<\/p>\n
The rioters burned Abepura's main market down, seriously
\ndamaged 25 four-wheel vehicles and 15 motorcycles, and destroyed
\nscores of houses and shops. (imn\/has\/19)<\/p>",
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