Indonesia beefs up security amid violent West Papua protests

Indonesia has deployed over 1,000 security personnel to the restive province of West Papua amid spreading violent protests.

Protests sparked by accusations that security forces had arrested and insulted Papuan students in East Java turned violent on Monday, when an angry mob torched a local legislative building and set fire to cars in Manokwari, the provincial capital.

West Papua police chief Herry Rudolf Nahak said protesters also destroyed parts of an airport and about 250 inmates escaped in a prison break in Sorong on Monday.

Nahak said that on Wednesday, several hundred demonstrators in Fakfak city burned a market and threw rocks at police, who responded with tear gas.

He said the situation was brought under control after the additional police and soldiers were sent in.