The situation was tense in Sorong City, Southwest Papua, where there was a mass action that rejected the decision of the local General Election Commission regarding the determination of candidates for governor and deputy governor who were considered not indigenous Papuans.
This action led to the blockade of several road points by the masses which lasted from Sunday night (22/9/2024) to Monday (23/9/2024) early morning.
The police and TNI were deployed to disperse the action which was considered anarchist. After appeals to disperse were rejected and the masses threw stones and bottles, the authorities responded with warning shots and tear gas, finally succeeding in dispersing the masses.
Sorong City Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Happy Perdana Yudianto, led the operation and confirmed that a number of youths who were arrested were only questioned about their activities during the protest.
Large-scale patrols are still being conducted by TNI and Polri in Sorong to maintain security and order.