Locals probed over recent Wamena riots<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Jayawijaya Police have questioned
\n23 Wamena locals in relation to the Oct. 6 bloody riots, in which
\nat least 30 people were killed and scores of others injured.<\/p>\n
\"A total of 18 men have been intensively investigated for
\nvarious charges, including murder, rape, robbery, assault and
\nbattery and resisting arrest.<\/p>\n
\"Most of them were caught red-handed during the incident,\"
\nJayawijaya Police chief Supt. D. Surapatty said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"Among them are two main murder suspects during the Oct. 6
\nrioting in Woma village,\" the officer said.<\/p>\n
The 18 men are Wamena locals living in Kurima district, some
\n20 kilometers from Wamena town which is located about 290
\nkilometers southwest of Jayapura capital city.<\/p>\n
Five members of the proindependence Papuan Presidium Council
\n(PDP) have also been questioned as they are suspected of
\nmasterminding the riots, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We strongly suspect that the five were behind the attacks on
\nmigrants during the bloody rioting,\" the officer added.<\/p>\n
The five PDP members have not been detained as they are still
\nbeing questioned as witnesses.<\/p>\n
\"For the time being, they are free to go. But if there are
\nfurther leads and evidence, we'll declare them suspects,\"
\nSuripatty said.<\/p>\n
Police identified the five PDP members as Rev. Obeth Komba,
\nRev. Miyage, teachers Murjono Murid and Yazeth Yelemaken and
\nhealth worker Amelia Gigibalom.<\/p>\n
The situation in Wamena slowly returned to normal. However,
\nsome 1,000 refugees who fled the rioting have refused to return
\nhome after sheltering at the compound of Jayawijaya 1702 Military
\nDistrict Command, Jayawijaya Police station as well as nearby
\nchurches and mosques.<\/p>\n
\"They are still traumatized. But aid is on the way. Today
\n(Thursday) we received some 3,500 boxes of instant noodles, 20
\ndrums of cooking oil and one ton of salty fish. But we haven't
\nreceived rice supplies,\" Wamena Regent David Agustinus Hubi said.<\/p>\n
Commercial flights in and out of Wamena, however, are still
\nnot operating, a local journalist said.<\/p>\n
\"We even have to get a pass from the Irian Jaya Police chief
\nto be observers in Wamena,\" the reporter said.<\/p>\n
The regent further revealed that losses in the Wamena riots
\nwere estimated at Rp 3.6 billion (US$404,494).<\/p>\n
Regency data says that 91 houses were either torched,
\nvandalized or looted and five kiosks and several vehicles were
\nburned in the incident.<\/p>\n
\"We badly need help to rehabilitate and repair the damage as
\nwell as help the refugees and those who are still on medication,\"
\nthe regent said.<\/p>\n
In Jayapura, PDP secretary-general Thaha Al Hamid said the
\ngroup's representatives were slated to meet President Abdurrahman
\nWahid in the first week of November in a bid to voice their
\naspirations on the Irian Jaya issue, including the hoisting of
\nthe Morning Star separatist flag in the province.<\/p>\n
PDP chairman Theys Hiyo Eluay reportedly left for Jakarta on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
\"He wishes to meet several ministers, including coordinating
\nminister for political, social and security affairs, prior to
\nmeeting the President,\" Thaha said. (34\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/locals-probed-over-recent-wamena-riots-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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