Rahmat Hidayat – Eleven government offices in Puncak Regency, Central Papua, were burned or damaged after a crowd protested the distribution of village funds, according to local police.
Puncak Police Chief AKBP Domingos De F Ximenes said three government buildings were completely destroyed by fire, while eight others sustained partial fire damage. Three additional government offices were reportedly heavily damaged.
The incident followed the distribution of the first phase of village funds by the Puncak Regency government on Tuesday, August 11, according to police.
The first confrontation reportedly occurred at the Community Empowerment Office, or PMK, at around 5:40 p.m. local time, after a group of people arrived at the government facility.
Crowd sets fire to PMK office
Puncak Regent Elvis Tabuni later went to the PMK office and attempted to communicate with the crowd.
Police said the crowd remained dissatisfied and set fire to the PMK office at about 6:45 p.m.
"At around 6:45 p.m., the protesters, who were dissatisfied, carried out an arson attack on the PMK Office," Domingos said in a statement on Wednesday, August 12.
The unrest subsequently spread to other government facilities in the area.
Police initially recorded seven government offices as having been burned: the PMK Office, Regent's Office, Regional People's Representative Council, or DPRK, Population and Civil Registration Office, Political and National Unity Office, Social Affairs Office and Finance Office.
A government vehicle belonging to the Food Security Office that was parked in the Regent's Office compound was also burned, Domingos said.
11 offices affected
Police later reported that the number of affected government offices had reached 11.
Three buildings were completely burned: the Health Office, the National Disaster Management Agency, or BNPB, warehouse and the Puncak Regional People's Representative Council, or DPRK, office.
Eight other offices suffered partial fire damage, including the Community Empowerment Office, Social Affairs Office, Regent and Deputy Regent's offices, Regional Secretary's office, Finance Office, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Office, and Personnel and Human Resources Development Agency, or BKPSDM.
Three offices were also reported to have sustained serious damage from the crowd, namely the Communication and Informatics Office, Political and National Unity Office and Inspectorate Office.
The varying classifications of damage mean the total number of affected buildings may not correspond directly to the number of structures completely destroyed.
Security situation reported stable
Domingos said the situation in Puncak had returned to normal, although additional security personnel remained deployed to prevent further unrest.
"The situation is now conducive. We have additional Brimob personnel, one unit from Battalion B of Central Papua Police, who are currently conducting patrols," Domingos said.
The Indonesian Mobile Brigade Corps, known as Brimob, is a specialized police unit frequently deployed to reinforce security during major disturbances.
Police said they are continuing to monitor developments following the unrest.
The incident came amid public concern over the distribution of village funds in Puncak Regency. Authorities have not provided further details in the material available on the specific dispute over the funds or whether any administrative irregularities were established.
The available information also does not indicate any confirmed casualties from the fires.