Indonesia arrests dozens for Papua protests

Indra Thamrin Hatta / AFP

Dozens of people have been arrested in Indonesia's Papua for "damaging and burning properties" in last week's protests.

Police confirmed that 28 people have been arrested and named as suspects, with more facing investigation.

On Saturday, two students in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta were also detained after being suspected of crimes against state security.

Authorities say the situation in Papua was now calmer after the area was racked by civil unrest for two weeks over perceived racial and ethnic discrimination. 

The rioters set cars and buildings ablaze, including a local parliament office and a building housing the offices of the state-controlled telco firm, during the protest.

More from International News

  • More than 700 injured in Iran's explosion

    A huge blast most likely caused by the explosion of chemical materials killed at least 18 people and injured more than 700 on Saturday at Iran's biggest port, Bandar Abbas, Iranian state media reported.

  • UN warns funding cuts threaten vital aid

    The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have sounded the alarm over severe funding shortfalls that are hindering life-saving humanitarian aid in countries including Nigeria, Burundi, and Colombia.

  • Multiple dead in Vancouver after vehicle plows into street festival

    A number of people were killed and multiple others were injured in Vancouver after a vehicle drove into a crowd at a Filipino street festival in the western Canadian city, police said on Saturday.

  • Rome and the world bid farewell to Pope Francis

    Presidents, royalty and simple mourners bade farewell to Pope Francis on Saturday at a solemn funeral ceremony, where a cardinal appealed for the pontiff's legacy of caring for migrants, the downtrodden and the environment to be kept alive.

Coming Up

  • Non Stop 92

    8:00pm - 10:00pm

  • Dubai 92 Chilled

    10:00pm - Midnight