Indonesia: Death toll rises to 23 in Papua riots

By Nicky Aulia Widadio

JAKARTA (AA) – Monday’s fresh riots left at least 23 people killed and 77 others injured in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, police said on Tuesday.

The riots were triggered by a report about a teacher’s racist remarks towards his students, which was later confirmed by police as a fake report.

"The alleged perpetrators are from the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), the masterminds of the riots in Wamena," police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told Anadolu Agency Tuesday.

The KNPB is a pro-independence group in Papua.

Prasetyo said the Papua issue would be brought to the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

The region has been witnessing riots since Aug. 19 following allegations of racist abuse and mistreatment of Papuan students in Java Island.

The fresh round of protests on Monday also forced the authorities to call for a temporary delay in all flights to the province as the angry mob set several buildings on fire.