Jayapura, 21/4 (Jubi) – Clashes have erupted between residents in Sorong, West Papua triggered by a drunken man, injuring several people, including a soldier and a policeman.
District military/ 1704 commander in Sorong, Lieutenant colonel Rahman Yadi said the alleged perpetrator was under influence of alcohol and his identity had not bee established yet.
Rahman said the drunken man attacked a citizen, Soleh Johar on Monday (21/4) at around 05.30am. As a result, about 300 people from the victim’s side looked for the attacker who was believed to live in the Yohan area.
A rival group in Yohan were already armed with sharp weapons when they arrived.
Danrem 171/PVT Brigadier General (TNI) Joko Subandrio tried to calm the rival groups.
“But he was ignored and the clash was inevitable,” Rahman said on Monday (21/4).
Two motorcycles and a vehicle belonging to the police department, a house and a private elementary school, SD YPK, were set on fire. To prevent further clashes, two platoons of Mobile Brigade (Brimob) police and Detachment C and two platoons 752/VYS are on alert in both neighborhoods.
“The situation is calm and a meeting between community leaders, religious leaders and youth in both groups are being held,” said Rahman.
Meanwhile, Papua police spokesman Senior Commissioner Sulistyo Pudjo Hartono regretted the bloody incident , saying it would have not happened if people had thought clearly and had been not easily provoked.
“The attack that occurred in the early morning is purely criminal,” said Pudjo.
“So far, Sorong was a very peaceful area and all sections of society work together to build the city,” added Pudjo.
The second meeting was held at Sorong police station for over two hours. “Since this afternoon, police patrols calmed people from both groups and assisted by two public figures,” he concluded. (Jubi / Indrayadi TH/ Tina)
