Wamena
Wamena | |
|---|---|
 Wamena in 2019 | |
OpenStreetMap  | |
| Coordinates:4°5′51″S138°57′04″E/ 4.09750°S 138.95111°E | |
| Country |  Indonesia |
| Province | Highland Papua |
| Regency | Jayawijaya Regency |
| Population (mid 2023 estimate) | |
| • Total | 66,080 |
| [1] | |
Wamena,also known as theDistrict of Wamena,is a large town in theWestern New Guinearegion ofIndonesia.It also serves as theseatofJayawijaya Regency.It is the largest town in the province ofHighland Papua,located in theBaliem Valleyand had a population of 64,967 in the 2020 Census;[2]the official estimate in mid 2023 was 66,080.[1]Wamena is the urban centre of a rural area housing Highland Papua's highest concentration of population, with over 300,000 people inhabiting the Baliem Valley and surrounding areas. These people belong to several related ethnic groups, the most prominent of which are theDani,Lani,andYali.
The town is also home to thePersiwa Wamenafootballteam, which played in theIndonesian Super Leagueuntil the early 2010s.
History[edit]
As far as the outside world was concerned, the discovery of theBaliem Valley,where Wamena is located, and the unexpected presence of its large agricultural population was made byRichard Archbold’s third zoological expedition toNew Guineain 1938. On 21 June an aerial reconnaissance flight southwards from Hollandia (nowJayapura) found what the expedition called the ‘Grand Valley’. Since it was almost completely cut off from the outside world, the area was spared by thefighting for the control of New GuineaduringWorld War II.The town itself was founded by the Dutch in 1956, as one of the last towns founded during their presence inWestern New Guinea.[3]Since then the valley has gradually been opened up to a limited amount of tourism.
In 2003, during what would be called afterward theWamena incident,an unidentified mob led by theFree Papua Movementraided theIndonesian Army's armoury of the town, killing two Indonesian soldiers and stealing several assault rifles.[4][5]Reprisals were harsh, affecting 25 villages, displacing around 7,000 villagers, and killing 50 in the process, torture and destruction of properties by the Indonesian army were also reported.[6][7]
During the2019 Papua protests,several government buildings were destroyed by an angry mob, after which the police and the military retaliated, leaving 16 civilians killed and 65 injured. According to local authorities, the particular set of protests was triggered by a separate racism incident within the city. AKompascorrespondent in Wamena reported that gunshots sounded across the city and that civilians primarily migrants were taking shelter in police stations, military bases,[8]local Papuan homes, and churches.[9]Out of the 16 civilians killed, 13 had come from outside the province, and most deaths occurred as they were trapped in buildings torched by the angry mob.[10]Later independence investigation byThe Jakarta Postand local media Tabloid Jubi, revealed civilian victims were likely to be higher than official counts. Perpetrators were likely not local Wamenan and were too old to be students even though wearing high school uniforms. Racism incidents that was claimed to have happened in Wamena and spread through social media are also likely to bemisinformationor evendisinformation.[9]
Responding to the protests, theMinistry of Communication and Information Technologyreactivated the internet blackout in Wamena.[11] Owing to the rioting and unrest, around 15,000 civilians were evacuated from Wamena, with a further 1,726 internally displaced within the town in early October.[12]Going the opposite direction, around 2,000 Papuan students returned from other cities across Indonesia to their home towns and cities, reporting a feeling of intimidation and danger.[13]
On 23 February 2023, around ten civilians were killed ina riotarising from akidnapping accusation.[14]
Climate[edit]
Wamena features atropical rainforest climate(KöppenAf), albeit a relatively mild version due to its high altitude.
| Climate data for Wamena (2004–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.0 (78.8) |
25.9 (78.6) |
26.1 (79.0) |
26.0 (78.8) |
26.3 (79.3) |
25.5 (77.9) |
24.9 (76.8) |
25.5 (77.9) |
25.7 (78.3) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.2 (79.2) |
26.3 (79.3) |
25.9 (78.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.9 (60.6) |
16.2 (61.2) |
15.8 (60.4) |
16.1 (61.0) |
15.9 (60.6) |
15.3 (59.5) |
15.0 (59.0) |
14.7 (58.5) |
15.1 (59.2) |
15.5 (59.9) |
15.7 (60.3) |
16.0 (60.8) |
15.6 (60.1) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 178.7 (7.04) |
178.2 (7.02) |
213.3 (8.40) |
249.8 (9.83) |
122.9 (4.84) |
133.5 (5.26) |
117.1 (4.61) |
110.3 (4.34) |
138.1 (5.44) |
143.0 (5.63) |
162.9 (6.41) |
166.5 (6.56) |
1,914.3 (75.38) |
| Average precipitation days | 15.6 | 15.7 | 18.4 | 18.9 | 13.5 | 15.1 | 14.6 | 13.8 | 15.3 | 15.4 | 15.6 | 17.2 | 189.1 |
| Source: Meteomanz[15] | |||||||||||||
Economy[edit]
Wamena claims a broader variety of fresh fruits and vegetables than other regions in Papua. On early 6 June 2013, a modern market was built in the town center to allow traditional farmers to sell their harvests at a proper price.[16]
Transport[edit]
Because of its relatively isolated location, the main form of access to the area is air travel. The town and the surrounding valley are served by the onlyWamena Airport,which can accommodate theTNI'sHercules airplanes.Dimonim Air, Trigana Air, Aviastar Mandiri,Susi Air,Merpatiand Wings Air serve the airport. The airport was razed by fire on 26 September 2011; all buildings including the departure and arrival terminals were engulfed by fire.[17]
Parts ofTrans-Papua Highwayis passing Wamena, linking the town by road with cities across Papua such as Jayapura.
Health[edit]
The largelyPapuantown is densely settled and hasextreme rates of HIV infection,with a claim of 5,100 cases recorded byAntara.[18]On 16 June 2015,Jayawijayaregional secretary Yohanis Walilo rectified the totalHIVcases to 4,521 HIV cases.[19]
References[edit]
- ^abBadan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 28 February 2024,Kabupaten Jayawijaya Dalam Angka 2024(Katalog-BPS 1102001.9501)
- ^Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2021.
- ^Martin Gostelow, James Hardy (2002).This Way, Indonesia.Hunter Publishing. p.48.ISBN2-8845-2096-1
- ^"West Papua: Police, Military involved in Papua Abuses".The Jakarta Post.Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.9 August 2004.Retrieved23 November2019.
- ^"Komnas HAM Temukan Pelanggaran HAM Berat di Papua".Tempo(in Indonesian). 2 September 2004.Retrieved23 November2019.
- ^"Gov't Must Address Policy Miscalculations on Papua: Report".Jakarta Globe.8 November 2017.Retrieved23 November2019.
- ^"Dynamics of Conflict and Displacement in Papua, Indonesia"(PDF).Refugee Studies Centre.2006. p. 44.Retrieved23 November2019.
- ^Suwandi, Dhias (23 September 2019). Gabrillin, Abba (ed.)."16 Warga Tewas dan 65 Terluka Saat Kerusuhan Pecah di Wamena, Papua Halaman all".KOMPAS(in Indonesian).Retrieved23 September2019.
- ^abMambor V.; Bachyul S. (26 November 2019)."Wamena investigation: What the government is not telling us".The Jakarta Post.Retrieved10 February2020.
- ^"Violent Protests in Papua Leave at Least 20 Dead".The New York Times.23 September 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 23 September 2019.Retrieved23 September2019.
- ^"Rusuh Wamena, Kominfo Kembali Blokir Akses Internet di Papua".CNN Indonesia(in Indonesian). 23 September 2019.Retrieved23 September2019.
- ^"Wamena disebut mulai pulih, sejumlah pengungsi 'enggan kembali'".BBC(in Indonesian). 8 October 2019.Retrieved4 November2019.
- ^"Ribuan mahasiswa Papua eksodus: 'Kami pulang bukan untuk kembali'".BBC(in Indonesian). 26 September 2019.Retrieved4 November2019.
- ^"Indonesia tightens security in Papua after nine killed in riot".Reuters.24 February 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 4 March 2023.Retrieved24 February2023.
- ^"SYNOP/BUFR observations. Data by months".Meteomanz.Retrieved21 March2024.
- ^Bustami, Rizal (24 June 2013)."John Wempi Wetipo Resmikan Wamena Mall".#PapuaUS - Papua Untuk Semua(in Indonesian).Retrieved28 March2023.
- ^"Fire razes Wamena Airport".The Jakarta Post.26 September 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2011.
- ^"5,100 HIV/AIDS cases detected in Wamena | The Jakarta Post".Archived fromthe originalon 20 May 2015.
- ^"Jayawijaya regency clarifies high HIV prevalence".The Jakarta Post.Retrieved3 July2022.
External links[edit]
Media related toWamenaat Wikimedia Commons
Regencies and cities ofHighland Papua | ||
|---|---|---|
Capital:Wamena | ||
| Regencies |  | |
