Gov’t Restores Internet Access in Nabire, Dogiyai

Following the improved security in Nabire and Dogiyai regencies in Papua province, the Government has announced it will lift internet restriction in the two regencies starting Friday (6/9) at 22:30 WIT (Eastern Indonesian Time).

“In addition in the two regencies, internet access has been restored in twenty one regencies in Papua province,” Acting Head of Public Relations Bureau of Ministry of Communication and Informatics Ferdinandus Setu said in his press release on Friday (6/9).

As previously reported on 4 September 2019, the internet access has been restored in nineteen regencies in Papua province, namely Keerom, Puncak Jaya, Puncak, Asmat, Boven Digoel, Mamberamo Raya, Mamberamo Tengah, Intan Jaya, Yalimo, Lanny Jaya, Mappi, Tolikara, Nduga, Supiori, Waropen, Merauke, Biak, Yapen, and Sarmi.

However, the Government, he added, will continue to monitor the situation in eight regencies in Papua province, namely Mimika, Paniai, Deiyai, Jayawijaya, Bintang Mountains, Numfor, Jayapura city, and Yahukimo within the next one or two days, Ferdinandus said.

Ferdinandus went on to say the Government will also continue to monitor the situation in Manokwari city, Sorong city, and Sorong regency within the next one or two days, adding that the number of fake news and hoaxes, provocations, as well as hateful comments related to Papua and West Papua has begun to decline since 31 August 2019.

For the record, the peak circulation of hoaxes and provocations related to the issue occurred on 30 August 2019 that saw 72,500 URLs (containing hoaxes and provocations) but the number gradually declined to 42,000 URLs in the next day, 19,000 URLs in the beginning of September 2019, and reached its low point on 6,060 URLs on 6 September 2019.

“The Government urges the public not to spread fake news and hoaxes, provocations, as well as hateful comments through any media, especially on social media, to help speed up the restoration of security throughout Papua and West Papua provinces,” Ferdinandus added. (Ministry of Communication and Informatics PR/ES)

Translated by: Galuh Wicaksono
Edited by: Muhammad Ersan Pamungkas