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

Riots broke out on Monday in the restive Papua region, where a separatist movement has simmered since the 1960s

While President Joko Widodo has sought to improve outcomes for the region, Indonesia’s long-standing racism against Papuans risks undermining his infrastructure plans, says Human Rights Watch

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

Published: 9:00am, 21 Aug 2019Updated: 4:38pm, 27 Aug 2019

Indonesia’s resource-rich Papua region, home to the world’s largest gold mine, saw violent riots break out in several cities on August 19, following allegations of racist abuse and mistreatment of Papuan students on Java island.

The local government building of Manokwari, the provincial capital of West Papua province, was torched and reduced to ashes. In neighbouring Sorong city, home to about 220,000 people, more than 250 inmates escaped when a prison was set ablaze.

Large crowds also took to the streets of Jayapura, the capital of Papua province.

A local government building was torched in Manokwari, West Papua. Photo: EPA-EFE

On Tuesday, the situation was calmer in some areas, but 200 more police officers had been sent to Sorong amid continued tension. Internet speeds were also lowered to “prevent hoaxes from spreading” in the region.

Papua is the western half of New Guinea island, and includes the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.

The former Dutch colony declared its independence in the early 1960s, but it was incorporated into Indonesia following a widely criticised UN-backed referendum.