Normalcy returns to troubled Irian Jaya town
JAKARTA (JP): Calm returned to the Irian Jaya town of Nabire yesterday after two days of rioting involving 3,000 job seekers left at least three soldiers injured, police said.
First Sgt. Sidik of the Nabire police precinct told The Jakarta Post by telephone last night that situation had returned to normal on Wednesday.
"Everything is under control now," he said. He added that troops had been deployed near the residential areas of local people in anticipation of fresh violence.
News reports said that the rioting in Nabire, 3,150 kilometers (1,960 miles) northeast of Jakarta, started on Tuesday with 3,000 disgruntled civil service job applicants.
The workers began rioting after they were fooled by rumors that 95 percent of the 127 job openings available for Paniai residents had already been filled.
Other rumors alleged that the Paniai government had openings for 2,000 new employees. But deputy governor of Irian Jaya Basyir Bachtiar said that the 2,000 openings were for the whole province, not just the Paniai district.
Paniai administration secretary Andi Basso then said that of the 127 openings, 32 were reserved for teachers.
The misinformed crowd, apparently could not accept the explanation. The angry mob vandalized the regency government office and set fire to the legislative council buildings, the town's prison and a market.
Around 100 office buildings, shops, homes and vehicles were destroyed by the mobs, according to press reports reaching here yesterday.
According to Jakarta media reports, between 41 and 60 prisoners escaped from prisons as the riot was occurring, though 37 were recaptured or turned themselves in.
Security authorities foiled their attempt to torch an oil warehouse belonging to state-owned oil company Pertamina and the Nabire airport facilities.
Troops were called in after the police were overwhelmed.
The Merdeka daily reported that rioters snatched two M-16 submachine guns from the troops.
In Jakarta, Chief of Armed Forces General Affairs Lt. Gen. Soeyono deplored the violence and said that the rioting was not politically motivated.
"It was not the work of separatists. It was mass spontaneity conducted by upset prospective civil servants," Soeyono was quoted by Antara as saying.
Free Papua Movement (OPM) secessionists have been waging low- level armed rebellions since the former Dutch colony became part of Indonesia in 1963.
The riot was the fourth to have rocked Irian Jaya this year, though no arrests were made. In March, nine people were killed in separate violent street protests in Timika, Tembagapura and Abepura. (14)