Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Chief of Information Service of Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Lt. Col. Eko Daryanto has appealed to people who have taken refuge following Sept 23 riot in Wamena to return home due to increasingly conducive situation and normal economic life in the capital of Jayawijaya District.
"The Sept 23, 2019 riot in Wamena, Jayawijaya District, forced tens of thousands of residents to take refuge at 34 command posts. However, one week after the riot broke out, the situation and condition in Wamena began to be conducive," he said in Jayapura, capital of Papua Province, on Thursday night.
He said the security situation and economic life in Wamena have increasingly become conducive, with a number of traders at a traditional market resuming their activities.
In fact, activities at Wouma Market and Irian Street located in the heart of Wamena City appeared to return to normal, he said.
"The Jayawijaya district administration and military/police personnel give security guarantee to all Indonesian citizens residing in Wamena to return home and carry out activities as usual," he said.
Eko said the number of Wamena residents taking refuge in Jayapura reached more than eight thousand, while tens of thousands of refugees were being sheltered at command posts in Wamena.
Some 220 refugees have returned to their hometowns in other provinces because of very cold temperature in Wamena City which caused many refugees to suffer from diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infection, he said.
Deadly riots simmered in Wamena at a rally that native Papuan students had held on September 23.
Some 33 people, including a medical doctor, were killed, while at least 77 others sustained injuries in the riot that also left several thousand residents, mostly non-native Papuans, with no choice but to take shelter in the local military and police compounds.
The dead and wounded comprised non-native Papuans, who were assaulted by rioters brandishing machetes and arrows. Several of them had migrated to Papua from their hometowns in provinces, such as West Sumatra and South Sulawesi, to earn a living.
Refugees in Wamena told to return home due to increasingly conducive situation
The joint medical team from the Health Office and the Indonesian Military/Police gave health service to refugees in Wamena (ANTARA News Papua/HO/Paminto Widodo)
He said the security situation and economic life in Wamena have increasingly become conducive.
