Protesters Demand Military Withdrawal Amid Papua Unrest

Protesters in Papua, Indonesia, clashed with police during a demonstration urging the military's withdrawal. Tension follows a controversial military operation resulting in civilian casualties. Demonstrators demanded an end to the ongoing violence. Security forces used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd, with no injuries reported among protesters.

In Indonesia's Papua region, tensions flared on Monday as civilians and students clashed with law enforcement during protests. The unrest stemmed from demands for the withdrawal of military forces from the region, following a recent operation that allegedly resulted in 15 civilian deaths.

The operation targeted armed separatists who have long sought independence for the mineral-rich Papua region, a territory under Indonesian control since a 1969 UN-supervised vote. Despite confirmation of the casualties by the country's human rights watchdog, the military has not acknowledged the deaths.

Approximately 800 demonstrators gathered across Jayapura, the capital of Papua province, calling for peace and an end to violence. Police deployed tear gas and water cannons to manage the crowds, with minor injuries reported among police personnel. The demonstration later continued peacefully, with several regional lawmakers engaging with the protesters to address their demands.