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Reuters

Indonesian security forces opened fire on Papuan protesters on Wednesday, killing six people who tried to storm a government office in Deiyai region, a local resident and a website citing a separatist group said.
Many were injured in the clash in Indonesia’s easternmost province, said Deiyai resident John Pakage told Reuters by telephone. The website giving the same toll is Suarapapua.com.
In Jakarta, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo dismissed reports of protesters being killed as “a provocation”, but said one military personnel was killed and three police officers injured in a clash.
“Security forces are trying to control the security in the area,” he said.
Explained: what has led to the violent riots in Indonesia’s Papua?
A Papuan news portal, jubi.com, said thousands of people, some carrying bows and arrows, were protesting in Deiyai.
Prasetyo of the police said only information from the Papua police was trustworthy.
“We don’t know yet how many victims because communication from there has been limited,” said Papuan military spokesman Eko Daryanto by phone.
Yones Douw, a senior official with a Papuan church organisation based in a region near Deiyai, said the situation remained “tense” after protesters clashed with security forces outside a local government office around 2pm local time.
In Jakarta, dozens of students protested near the presidential palace, local media reported. Photos showed that some protesters had painted on their face the symbol from a banned flag of a Papuan independence movement.
Separatist rebels ‘execute 31 construction workers’ in Indonesia’s Papua
Thousands of Papuans have been protesting over perceived ethnic discrimination since last week, with protesters torching a market, a jail and government offices in Papua.
The demonstrations were triggered by a racist slur against Papuan students, who were hit by tear gas in their dormitory and detained in the city of Surabaya on Indonesia’s main island of Java on August 17, but some protest rallies grew into a broader demand for an independence vote.
About 1,200 police officers have flown to the region which already has a heavy military presence because of to decades of separatist conflicts.
Jakarta has cut internet access in the region in the past week, to stop people sharing “provocative” messages that could trigger more violence, a step criticised by rights group and journalists, who said it had made reporting difficult.


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Indonesia

Six killed after Indonesian authorities open fire on Papuan protesters

Papuan activists with their faces painted with the colours of the separatist Morning Star flag. Photo: AP

Explained: what has led to the violent riots in Indonesia’s Papua?

Thousands march at a protest in Jayapura, Papua province. Photo: EPA-EFE

People burn tires during a protest at a road in Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia, August 19, 2019 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Toyiban/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks to the media about the deaths of construction workers after a shooting in the country's easternmost province of Papua, at the palace in Jakarta, Indonesia December 5, 2018 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Antara Foto/Wahyu Putro A/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT.

epa07780089 A local parliament building burns during a protest in Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia, 19 August 2019. According to media reports, protesters set fire to the local parliament building and cars during a protest against the detention of Papuan students in Surabaya for damaging a national flag pole outside of a dormitory. EPA-EFE/STRINGER BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE

TOPSHOT - Protesters take to the street to face off with Indonesian police in Manokwari, Papua on August 19, 2019. - Riots broke out in Indonesia's Papua with a local parliament building torched as thousands protested allegations that police tear-gassed and arrested students who supported the restive region's independence. (Photo by STR / AFP)

People display banners that read "Stop intimidation and racism towards indigenous Papuans" during a protest in Manokwari, Papua province, Indonesia, Monday, Aug. 19, 2019. The protest was sparked by accusations that Indonesian police who backed by the military, have arrested and insulted dozens of Papuan students in their dormitory in East Java's cities of Surabaya and Malang a day earlier. (AP Photo/Safwan Ashari Raharusun)

Fresh violence erupts in Indonesia’s Papua region, as anger spreads over alleged racist abuse of students

Papuans at a rally in Timika, Papua province. Photo: AP

Protesters gather under the banned Papuan flag in the city of Fakfak on August 21, 2019. - Indonesia's Papua was hit by fresh unrest on August 21 as more than 1,000 security personnel were sent to the restive region after violent protests that saw buildings torched and street battles between police and demonstrators. (Photo by STR / AFP)

A building, set on fire by rioting demonstrators, is seen in Sorong on August 20, 2019. - Indonesian authorities were hunting for more than 250 inmates who escaped a Papua prison set ablaze during violent riots, officials said August 20, as fresh protests broke out in the restive region triggered by reports that authorities tear-gassed and detained some 43 Papuan university students in the Southeast Asian nation's second-biggest city Surabaya on August 17 -- Indonesia's independence day. (Photo by Hasyim Kelirey / AFP)

Papuans hold posters during a protest in Timika, Papua province, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019. Indonesia has deployed over 1,000 security personnel to the restive province of West Papua amid spreading violent protests sparked by accusations that security forces had arrested and insulted Papuan students in East Java . (AP Photo/Jimmy Rahadat)

Indonesian soldiers stand as they arrive at Domine Eduard Osok Airport to be deployed to Sorong and Manokwari following the protests in Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia, August 20, 2019 in this photo taken by Antara Foto. Picture taken August 20, 2019 Antara Foto/Olha Mulalinda/ via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. INDONESIA OUT.

epa07783654 Papuan people load their belongings on a truck as smoke rises from a burning building after a violent protest in Fakfak, West Papua Province, Indonesia, 21 August 2019. According to media reports, the Indonesian government sent more than 1000 security personnel to West Papua province as unrest triggered by accusations that security insulted Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java, continued. EPA-EFE/BEAWIHARTA -- BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE

Buildings burn as protesters take to the streets in the city of Fakfak on August 21, 2019. - Indonesia's Papua was hit by fresh unrest on August 21 as more than 1,000 security personnel were sent to the restive region after violent protests that saw buildings torched and street battles between police and demonstrators. (Photo by STR / AFP)

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Thousands of Papuans have been protesting over perceived ethnic discrimination since last week
About 1,200 police officers have flown to the region which has a heavy military presence due to decades of separatist conflicts



Thousands of Papuans have been protesting over perceived ethnic discrimination since last week, with protesters torching a market, a jail and government offices.


Racism and other prejudice