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West Papua has been shaken by a revolt against central government in Jakarta since mid-August. The original indigenous population, the Papuans, are demonstrating in protest against Indonesian authorities who often regard them as second-class citizens. New clashes would have killed six people.
This time it was in the remote district of Deiyai that several thousand Papuans gathered to challenge the racist treatment they claimed to be victims of. An event that quickly degenerated when the police began to fire tear gas.
In anger, protesters armed with machetes, bows and arrows reportedly attacked the police. According to the Indonesian army , one soldier is reported to have died and the clashes reportedly resulted in several injuries. A local priest speaks of six dead among the protesters, who he claims are shot by the army.
1,200 military and police reinforcements
A week ago, Jakarta had sent 1,200 military and police reinforcements in this poor province in the far east of the archipelago, shaken by riots since mid-August.
It was the muscular intervention in a student dormitory that set fire to the powders. 43 young Papuans had been arrested by being insulted by " monkeys " or " pigs ". Since then, official buildings are burning. Many protesters are demanding the independence of this rich gold and copper province, annexed by Indonesia since 1969.