Wamena Calm Again After Brawl That Killed Soldier

Makassar. Acting Papua Governor Syamsul Arief Rivai said conditions in Wamena had stabilized after the city was rocked by a riot that killed a soldier. 

“[Wednesday’s] brawl was purely criminal,” he said on Thursday, dismissing speculations that it was connected to this year’s gubernatorial election like recent electoral clashes in Tolikara district . 

“Conditions have been returning to normal since.” 

Jayawijaya military commander Col. Ibnu Tri Widodo said earlier that the incident had been set off when a pas senger on an ojek, or motorcycle taxi, refused to pay his fare and the driver beat him up. 

But Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Alfian said that after further investigation, it appeared that the clash started after a young man from neighboring Tiom village was extorted by thugs upon arriving at the market. 

The man was beaten for refusing to give the thugs money. Later that day, he reported the incident to people from his village, who stormed the market in search of the people responsible for the beating. 

When they couldn’t find the thugs, the frustrated villages began ransacking the market and attacking people, Afian said. John Banua, a deputy regent, arrived at the scene to assess the situation and was hit by an arrow in his thigh. 

“Schools, markets and shops have returned to their normal activities,” the police chief, said adding that authorities had not charged anyone for the incident. 

“We have to be sensitive. We have just restored order, so we cannot rush to investigate anyone,” he said. “We also have not assessed the damage, but several police patrol cars and stations were vandalized by the mob.” 

Syamsul said soldiers from a nearby military base had tried to stop the violence. “But unfortunately one soldier ended up getting killed after he was slashed in the neck,” he said. 

However, military commander Ibnu said that the soldier, Chief Sgt. Bambang Winarko, was in fact a member of John’s security team. Bambang was buried at the Wamena heroes’ cemetery in Papua’s capital Jayapura on Thursday. 

Ibnu said that the mob had also tried to steal Bambang’s handgun. 

“But [Thursday] morning his FN pistol was returned,” he said.