Papuans Run Amok, State Offices Burnt Down

VIVAnews – Hundreds of residents of Yalimo District, Papua, ran amok and burned a number of office buildings in the small town on Sunday evening, April 15. The incident was triggered by a traffic accident that killed 2 Yalimo residents. 

Prior to the incident, a car crashed in Apalapsili Yalimo District. The car went into a ravine, killing two people. 

Residents who could not accept the death of the victims then were angered and paraded the bodies to Yalimo’s Regent office. The bodies were supposed to be kept there. 

During the procession, the residents raged and burned down the Public Works office, the Regional Development Planning Agency office, and Yalimo’s House of Representatives building.  Police were unable to control the riot. 

Papua Police spokesperson, Yohanes Nugroho Wicaksono, confirmed the arson of a number of government buildings in Yalimo District. 

“The buildings burned down in Yalimo are the Public Works office and the Regional Development Planning Agency office.  Both offices were located in the same building.  The incident was triggered by a traffic accident that killed two local residents,” he said. 

He said a car plunged into a ravine by virtue of the seriously damaged road around the scene. “The poor road condition is never repaired. Accidents happened there at times. The climax was when a car dived into a ravine and killed two people. People were furious about it,” he said. 

“When the people passed the offices, their emotions exploded and they started the arson,” he said. 

It is not known yet how much damage was caused by the arson because the Police are still investigating the crime scene. 

Yohanes said that the situation is under control now.  “We deployed 50 police officers from Wamena to Yalimo to assist the local officers there,” he said.