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A screenshot of Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD. He said the recent incidents of violence in Maluku, West Papua, and Papua were not caused by ethnic, religious, racial, or intergroup-related issues. (ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi) - 

The situation in Maluku, West Papua, and Papua has returned to normal following isolated incidents of violence in the provinces, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, has confirmed.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God), the situation is now under control," Mahfud remarked after a coordination meeting here on Friday.

Indonesian Military Chief General Andika Perkasa, military and police chiefs from the respective areas, officials from the Home Affairs Ministry, the Indonesian Police headquarters, and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) attended the meeting, which was held virtually.

The meeting discussed civil clashes in Haruku, Maluku, and in Sorong, West Papua, as well as the shooting of three soldiers in Gome, Puncak district in Papua by armed separatists.

During the meeting, Mahfud received reports on the causes behind the clashes in Haruku and Sorong.

The minister assured that the clashes were not caused by ethnic, religious, racial, and intergroup-related issues (SARA).

"None of them were related to SARA. Please do not expand the issues; there was no SARA," he stressed.

The clash in Sorong, West Papua was sparked by a fight between two groups, which led to a fire at a club, he said. Seventeen people died in the fire, Mahfud informed.

The West Papua police have questioned 31 people and named two as suspects in the incident that occurred on January 25, 2022.

Meanwhile, the clash in Haruku Island, Central Maluku district, Maluku on January 25, was ignited by overlapping claims over village territory.

"In Haruku, (the clash) was sparked by overlapping claims over village territory. This was a pure land conflict," Mahfud said.

Furthermore, the shooting of three soldiers in Papua by separatist terrorists on Thursday (January 27) was the outcome of a change in the approach to the handling of the Papua conflict, he opined.

Mahfud then asked the Indonesian Military chief to evaluate the new approach to prevent more casualties, especially among civilians//ANT