Nandito Putra, Jakarta – Head of the Public Relations of the Papua Regional Police, Sr. Comr. Ignatius Benny Ady, denied claims that officers fired gunshots during a protest against the free nutritious meal program in Wamena, Papua Highlands on Monday, August 17, 2025. Benny also denied allegations of excessive force used by the police.
Benny accused that the narrative of violence during the protest was spread by the West Papuan National Army-Free Papua Movement (TNPB-OPM) group. "The issue is not true, it's a hoax and is spread by TNPB-OPM to corner the government," Benny said in a written statement on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
Claims of firearm use during the Monday protest circulated on the internet. Photos showing several bullet casings emerged on social media X with narratives alleging that police fired live ammunition.
Benny denied these allegations. However, he confirmed that officers used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who were students. He said the police released tear gas because the demonstrators were throwing stones at the officers. Therefore, he argued, the use of tear gas was in accordance with the procedures.
"The demonstrators at that time had started to become anarchic and were throwing stones at the authorities," he said.
Previously, based on a video clip seen by Tempo, the student demonstration in Wamena on Monday morning turned chaotic. The riot occurred around 09:00 WIT (Eastern Indonesia Time) as the crowd moved towards the cross tower in front of the Jayawijaya Regent's Office. The unrest happened on Hom-hom Road, a few hundred meters from the Jayawijaya Regent's Office.
Head of the Operational Division of the Jayawijaya Police, Adj. Comr. Suparmanto reported that a group of individuals in casual clothing, not students, threw stones at officers.
Approximately 3,500 students participated in the demonstration against the free nutritious meal program in Wamena. They took to the streets starting at 08:00 local time. According to the police, the students came from Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, and Yahukimo Regency. Based on the video clip seen by Tempo, they voiced their rejection of the policy initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.
Asken Yohanes, one of the students who participated in the demonstration, said that he and thousands of students in Wamena and Papua need access to free education and adequate school facilities, rather than free nutritious meals.