Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Police recorded hundreds of public facilities caught fire in the incident unrest in the district Yalimo, Papua which was allegedly carried out by a mass of supporters of one of the regional election candidates after the decision of the Constitutional Court (MK), Tuesday (29/6).
“A total of 19 government offices were burned or damaged, 26 units of government offices were burned, 2 community houses were burned, 126 units of shophouses or businesses were burned,” said Head of Public Relations of the Papua Police, Kombes Ahmad Musthofa Kamal in a written statement, Tuesday (6/7).
He said arson was also carried out on a number of motorized vehicles in the area.
It was recorded that four four-wheeled vehicles were burned. Then, there are 115 two-wheeled vehicles. In addition, one bridge was damaged by the mob.
According to police records, there were 1,137 people who took refuge in the Yalimo Police Dormitory due to the riots.
The Papuan Police Chief, Inspector General Mathius D Fakhiri visited the location of the riot on Monday (5/7) yesterday. He stated that the government would make repairs to the damaged facilities.
“I appeal to the entire community to stop activities that may harm all parties so that unwanted things do not happen, but this has happened, we will manage this well,” he said.
Mathius apologized to the people who were affected and had to evacuate due to this burning. Some of them, he said, lost their jobs and business stalls.
He hoped that the riots would not reoccur after the police intervened and communicated with the people involved.
“Regarding these refugees and always prioritizing safety, if people want to go down to Wamena Regency, they must arrange their preparations properly,” added Mathius.
The mass arson took place when supporters of candidate pair number 01 watched the court’s decision online.
After hearing the results of the Constitutional Court’s decision, they were dissatisfied to see the candidate for regent number 01, Erdi Dabi and Jhon Wilil disqualified. This then prompted them to set fire to several buildings.
In this decision, apart from disqualifying the Erdi Dabi-John Wilil candidate in the Yalimo Pilkada, the Constitutional Court also ordered a re-voting.
(mjo/wis)
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