Papuan regencies hit by deadly violence during last week's regional elections are now safe, Indonesia's police chief says.
West Papuan demonstrators tightly monitored by Indonesian police. Photo: Whens Tebay
Tito Karnavian was in the capital of Papua province yesterday in the wake of deadly shootings which hampered the start of the elections in two Highlands regencies.
In Nduga regency last Monday, three civillians were killed in shootings for which a faction of the West Papua Liberation Army claimed responsibility.
Another incident took place on voting day last Wednesday in Puncak Jaya when Torere district head Obaja Froaro was killed by who police described as "unknown assailants".
The Jakarta Post reported that following this incident two police went missing.
Speaking from Jayapura, Mr Karnavian said the situation in Papua was now stable, with security forces maintaining order.
He said additional police were deloyed to secure Nduga, where the vote count was ongoing.
