One dead in Irian Jaya unrest<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): One person was killed and two other
\ncivilians were injured when a clash erupted in Merauke after
\npolice tried to disperse demonstrators rejecting the government's
\noffer of wide-ranging autonomy, activists said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The Institute of Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (IHRSTAD)
\nidentified the dead person as 18-year-old Paskalis Betayob.<\/p>\n
One of the institute's executives, Aloysius Renwarin, said the
\nhigh school student died of gunshot wounds in the back and chest.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. Silvianus Yulius Wenas
\nconfirmed that a clash had occurred, but would not confirm the
\ndeath.<\/p>\n
He said two civilians were injured when police fired rubber
\nbullets to control the crowd. Eight policemen also suffered
\nwounds after being struck by arrows and stones.<\/p>\n
\"I'm still waiting for further reports from Merauke Police,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He conceded that those injured were wounded by rubber bullets,
\nbut stressed that protesters had become uncontrollable and had
\nvandalized government buildings and ignored police warnings to
\ndisperse.<\/p>\n
According to Wenas, the demonstration was organized after
\nrumors that Merauke acting regent M.R. Kambu was flying to
\nJakarta to meet government officials to sign an agreement on
\nautonomy.<\/p>\n
A crowd of over 400 people then staged a protest at Mopah
\nAirport to prevent Kambu leaving for Jakarta, but Kambu was
\nnowhere to be seen.<\/p>\n
The protesters then went to state RRI radio station and began
\nvandalizing the building.<\/p>\n
\"Police opened fire with rubber bullets when the crowd started
\nto pelt stones at the building and attack our officers with
\narrows and slingshots,\" Wenas said.<\/p>\n
The crowd then reportedly attacked the regent's office and
\nlater targeted the local police headquarters.<\/p>\n
Four police cars and a police health clinic in the
\nheadquarters compound were damaged.<\/p>\n
\"We will investigate this incident and summon the leader of
\nthis protest,\" he said.<\/p>\n
IHRSTAD, however, claimed that the protest was sparked by an
\nRRI interview with regent candidate John Gubla Gebze on Tuesday.
\nDuring the interview Gebze said that if elected he would support
\nautonomy. (eba\/emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/one-dead-in-irian-jaya-unrest-1447893297",
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