Demonstration Against Job Creation Law In West Papua Tipped Into Chaos

Illustrations (Photo: Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - A demonstration against the ratification of the Work Creation Law by the Cipayung Alliance at the DPRD Complex in Sorong City, West Papua, Friday, October 9 ended in chaos. The crowd threw glass at the people's representative office.

Meanwhile, chaos occurred when the negotiations between representatives of the mass action and members of the DPRD to convey their aspirations did not reach an agreement. The police officers blocked the crowd forcing their way into the DPRD office so that the pushing action took place.

The crowd then retreated and pelted the police with fresh glass and threw glass at the Sorong City DPRD Building. Police officers dismissed the anarchist action of the students who were members of the Cipayung Group with tear gas shots.

The rioting took place for about two hours from 14.00-16.00 WIT, which resulted in community activities and traffic flow in Kilometer 10 Area on Jalan Sungai Maruni to a halt.

Kapolres Sorong City AKBP Ary Nyoto Setiawan when confirmed, said that the action was notified to the Sorong Police the day before the action, so it was not according to procedure. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, mass gatherings were prohibited so it was not allowed.

"However, the action is still being carried out so that the police provide escort and security of the action," he said.

It is said that initially the action proceeded safely and the mass of the action was reminded to be orderly and not anarchist. But on the way to action there were intruders so that the masses threw them at the DPRD office's windows.

"The situation is safe. The mass of the action has disbanded and we will follow up on the action by calling the action coordinator for questioning. There were also some non-students who carried out the throwing action and were secured for questioning," he added.