Riots In Papua, Officials Ask For Masses Not To Be Easily Instigated By Emotions

Hundreds of mobs took the late Lukas Enembe to his final resting place. (IST)

JAKARTA - Along with the procession of delivering the body of former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe at STAKIN Sentani. Hundreds of people who took the bodies carried out brutal acts. In photos and videos spread through short messages on smartphones and social media, it appears that the actions they carry out along the road go to the burial site.

They threw stones at shops and buildings that were passed. The Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) building looks broken and several parts of the holes are four hard objects. The car parked on the side of the road did not escape the tantrums of the masses. A car appears to be burning and causes black smoke.

Assistant Assistant Assistant to the Papua Regional Secretary for the Economy and People's Welfare, Suzana Wanggai, who was contacted by VOI by telephone, could not say much about this incident. "We are still gathering materials about what happened. All parties must refrain from being easily provoked by emotions. I can't comment, just wait for the Regional Secretary, thank you," he said.

Acting Governor of Papua Ridwan Ruikutun who took the body to the final resting place also became a victim of mass brutality. He was hit by stones from the masses who went berserk.

After the incident Ridwan was secured and taken to the nearest health facility to get first aid. In the video circulating received by VOI editors, Ridwan Ruikutun was seen trying to be rescued by residents. "It's a pity Pak Ruikutun, broke his head," said the resident who recorded this incident.

This riot, as previously reported by VOI, does not really need to happen if the masses can be calm and not burn with emotion. The statement shows regret coming from the Head of the Papua Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) Yohanes Walilo. According to him, this incident should not have happened because in the midst of the situation of condolences for the death of former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe.

"You have to maintain his good name (the late Lukas Enembe) because during his lifetime he had achieved a lot and worked in Papua, but small incidents occurred outside of our responsibility," said Yohanes.