Thousands Awaiting Evacuation

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Displaced people are accommodated at the Megantara multipurpose building in Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday (28/9/2019).

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS —  Almost 3,000 people in Wamena, Jayawijaya regency, Papua, have joined an exodus to Jayapura, following widespread riots on 23 September. Currently, about 10,000 other people have registered to be airlifted out of Wamena on the Indonesian Air Force’s Hercules aircraft.

Apart from Wamena, people in Tolikara and Lanny Jaya regencies, located four to eight hours by land from Wamena, also registered for evacuation. “People in Tolikara and Lanny Jaya are scared of potential riots like the one in Wamena. They wanted to go to Jayapura,” Jayapura’s Silas Papare air base commander Air Cmdr. Tri Bowo Budi Santoso said in Sentani, Jayapura, on Sunday (29/9/2019).

On Sunday, two Hercules aircraft belonging to the Air Force have flown six times to evacuate people. From 150 to 170 people were airlifted in each trip.

“We will be able to complete the evacuation of tens of thousands of people who have registered in the upcoming three to four days,” Tri said.

Lanny Jaya regency secretary Christian Sohilait said that about 3,000 people had left Lanny Jaya in the past several days. Most were from other regions.

“Some 300 of these people are motorcycle taxi drivers, construction workers and teachers. We cannot force them to stay. They are traumatized by what is happening in Wamena,” he said.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

National Disaster Mitigation Agency head Dony Monardo, accompanied by his staff, hands over aid to displaced people at the Megantara Multipurpose Building in Jayapura, Papua, Sunday (29/9/2019).

Evacuees spread

So far, almost 3,000 evacuees are spread out in several spots in Jayapura. A majority of them are staying in the homes of relatives or people from their hometowns. Meanwhile, 528 evacuees are currently staying in four locations in Jayapura, including in the Megantara Multifunction Building in Jayapura’s Silas Papare air base.

“We will coordinate with the local administration to prepare other temporary shelters. Many of these evacuees have no family in Jayapura,” Tri said.

On Sunday night, the Megantara building remained packed with evacuees. Men, women, young and old and even children were there – many of them since 24 September.

We will also establish communications with youth, student and community leaders to prevent further violent protests. Peace must be restored in Papua.

Aid for evacuees continues to arrive. Papua Representative Council speaker Yunus Wonda said that the council participated by donating meals and Rp 100 million (US$7,044) for the evacuees. “We will also establish communications with youth, student and community leaders to prevent further violent protests. Peace must be restored in Papua,” he said.

In Jayapura, National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) chief Doni Monardo said that he had instructed the Papua disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) to prepare aid for evacuees in Wamena and Jayapura.

On Saturday, Papua BPBD sent four tons of clothes, blankets and women’s and children’s needs for evacuees in Wamena.

The Social Affairs Ministry is also giving Rp 3.5 billion-worth of aid to evacuees in Wamena. The aid was allocated in line with a request from the local social affairs agency.

The budget is set to cover the establishment of a general kitchen and the purchase of clothes, mattresses, tents and sleeping needs. Social Affairs Minister Agus G. Kartasasmita said that he ensured all aid had arrived in Wamena for distribution.

“If evacuees need more, of course we will prepare it. Other than daily needs, we will also deploy manpower for psychosocial services,” Agus said.

The ministry is also preparing productive economic activity programs as stimuli for owners of affected shops. The program is expected to help the speedy recovery of the local economy.

The Social Affairs Ministry is preparing donations of Rp 15 million for the families of deceased riot victims.

Do not be provoked

Regarding reports of 10 people from West Sumatra who died in a violent riot in Wamena, the Minangkabau people in West Sumatra and other regions are being urged to not be provoked. Bodies of eight victims arrived in their hometown in West Sumatra two days ago, while those of the other two were buried in Papua.

Minangkabau people should not be provoked. We must work together to find solutions to this problem.

West Sumatra cleric Buya Mas’oed Abidin said on Sunday that people should not link ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup (SARA) sentiments with the riots in Wamena. This is because people from other regions also became victims in the riots. “Minangkabau people should not be provoked. We must work together to find solutions to this problem,” Buya Mas’oed said.

West Sumatra Deputy Governor Nasrul Abit also issued calls through social media for everyone to maintain calm and not to provoke one another. Provocations will only cause more conflicts in Papua, West Sumatra and other regions.

KOMPAS/FABIO M LOPES COSTA

Hundreds of displaced people from Wamena arrive in Jayapura, Papua, on Friday (27/9/2019). A total of 1,096 residents have left Wamena after the riots broke out in the city on 23 September 2019.

Data from the Papua Minangkabau Family Association shows that between 400 and 450 Minangkabau individuals live in Wamena. Some have chosen to return home to West Sumatra, flee to Jayapura or stay in Wamena. (FLO/SAN/JOL)