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Papua protests: More than 20 die after protesters start fires | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
At least 21 people are dead and dozens injured after hundreds of protesters, mostly high school students, set fire to several buildings in a city in Indonesia's eastern region of Papua. | |
Among the dead were those trapped inside the buildings in Wamena city. | Among the dead were those trapped inside the buildings in Wamena city. |
The protests on Monday were reportedly triggered by a teacher's racist comments - an allegation the police called a "hoax". | |
It's the latest violence in the region, which saw weeks of unrest in August. | |
Four people died in a separate incident in the provincial capital of Jayapura, bringing the total death toll to 25. | |
The incident in Jayapura took place after a mob of students reportedly attacked a soldier and police officers with machetes and rocks. | |
The day of violence came after a period of relative calm in the region, which had last month been rocked by mass demonstrations in response to claims of racism. | |
The previous protests stemmed from an incident where nationalist groups accused Papuan university students in Surabaya of damaging an Indonesian flag during Independence Day celebrations. | The previous protests stemmed from an incident where nationalist groups accused Papuan university students in Surabaya of damaging an Indonesian flag during Independence Day celebrations. |
The groups had goaded the students, calling them "monkeys", "pigs" and "dogs". | The groups had goaded the students, calling them "monkeys", "pigs" and "dogs". |
A spokesman for a West Papua separatist group said the violence in Wamena was triggered by racist slurs directed at students by a teacher. | A spokesman for a West Papua separatist group said the violence in Wamena was triggered by racist slurs directed at students by a teacher. |
However, Papua police denied this, calling it a "hoax". They said clashes had broken out after a fight between students from different schools. | However, Papua police denied this, calling it a "hoax". They said clashes had broken out after a fight between students from different schools. |
Papua military spokesman Eko Daryanto told news agency AFP the death toll from Monday's violence could rise, saying many civilians had been "trapped in burning kiosks". | Papua military spokesman Eko Daryanto told news agency AFP the death toll from Monday's violence could rise, saying many civilians had been "trapped in burning kiosks". |
Meanwhile in Jayapura, clashes took place between security forces and protesters, with pictures showing scores of police gathered outside a university. | Meanwhile in Jayapura, clashes took place between security forces and protesters, with pictures showing scores of police gathered outside a university. |
Mr Daryanto told news agency the Associated Press that a mob of students had attacked a soldier and police officers in Jayapura with machetes and rocks. | Mr Daryanto told news agency the Associated Press that a mob of students had attacked a soldier and police officers in Jayapura with machetes and rocks. |
Security forces responded with gunfire, killing three civilians, he told AP. The soldier later died. | Security forces responded with gunfire, killing three civilians, he told AP. The soldier later died. |
Papua is divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua, and became a part of Indonesia following a controversial referendum. | Papua is divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua, and became a part of Indonesia following a controversial referendum. |
The former Dutch colony initially declared independence in 1961 but was controversially annexed by Indonesia in 1969. | The former Dutch colony initially declared independence in 1961 but was controversially annexed by Indonesia in 1969. |
A referendum on its independence was held in 1969 but only about 1,000 people were allowed to vote. | A referendum on its independence was held in 1969 but only about 1,000 people were allowed to vote. |
As a result, a low-level separatist movement, fighting for independence, continues to this day. | As a result, a low-level separatist movement, fighting for independence, continues to this day. |
The Indonesian military, meanwhile, is accused of gross human rights abuses in their attempt to suppress any form of dissent in the province. | The Indonesian military, meanwhile, is accused of gross human rights abuses in their attempt to suppress any form of dissent in the province. |