The first thing residents noticed was smoke.
Then came photographs.
Then messages began moving between villages faster than confirmation.
By Thursday morning, June 4, residents around Waghete in Tigi District, Deiyai, Papua Tengah (Central Papua), were already standing near what remained of Yapis Waghete I Elementary School.
The classrooms were gone.
Roof structures had collapsed inward.
Metal sheets twisted from heat still covered parts of the ground.
People walked around quietly.
Some recorded videos.
Others simply stared.
Children who normally arrived carrying school bags instead watched adults discuss where classes could continue.
Less than a day later, on June 5, another report emerged from a different part of Papua.
This report came from Manggelum District in Boven Digoel, Papua Selatan (South Papua).
Another school had burned.
Two civilian houses had also been destroyed.
The West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) claims responsibility for both incidents. They argue that Indonesian security officers have used the buildings against the TPNPB OPM.
For many communities, the incidents felt less like isolated events and more like familiar reminders.
Elementary School In Deiyai Reduced To Ashes
Residents living near Yapis Waghete I said the fire destroyed nearly the entire school complex.
Several reports later estimated losses reaching around Rp2 billion.
The school served children from surrounding communities who already face limited educational access compared with larger urban areas.
Security officials responding afterward said early findings indicated possible involvement of armed separatist elements, although investigations remain ongoing.
Local Residents Immediately Asked The Same Question
People did not initially discuss politics.
They asked where students would study.
Parents gathered near the area asking whether temporary classrooms could be prepared.
Teachers discussed learning schedules.
One local resident interviewed during reporting described the situation simply.
“The building can be rebuilt. The lost time is harder.”
Another Attack Reported In Boven Digoel
Before discussions surrounding Deiyai had slowed, another incident emerged.
Reports from Manggelum District on June 5 described arson targeting one school building alongside two civilian houses.
Several statements circulating afterward claimed the buildings had connections with security personnel activity.
Authorities rejected those accusations and described the affected structures as civilian facilities.
The competing claims created confusion.
Residents again found themselves trying to determine which information was accurate.
Fear Spread Faster Than Verification
Several residents reportedly left temporarily after hearing rumors of wider attacks.
Others waited for clarification from local authorities.
Photographs circulated widely before official explanations appeared.
This pattern has increasingly become familiar during security incidents.
Images arrive first.
Verification comes later.
Why Schools Carry Different Meanings In Papua
Roads can be repaired.
Markets reopen.
Schools create different reactions.
In many districts across Papua, educational infrastructure remains limited.
Students sometimes travel significant distances.
Alternative facilities are not always available.
That partly explains why incidents involving schools produce stronger emotional responses.
The destruction affects schedules immediately.
Parents must reorganize routines.
Teachers lose classrooms.
Children lose spaces that often function beyond education itself.
Education Remains Central to Government Development Programs
Recent years have seen increasing emphasis on education programs across Papua.
School revitalization.
Scholarships.
Teacher distribution.
Infrastructure spending.
Government officials repeatedly describe education as essential for improving human resource capacity among indigenous Papuans.
That broader context partly explains why attacks involving educational facilities attract national attention.
Competing Narratives Continue Surrounding Civilian Infrastructure
Statements following both incidents quickly moved beyond reporting damage.
Several armed actors claimed targeted facilities had relationships with security forces.
Authorities denied those allegations.
Local officials, meanwhile, focused on recovery.
This disagreement highlights a wider challenge.
In conflict-affected areas, competing narratives frequently emerge immediately after incidents.
Verification often takes longer.
Officials Warn Against Rapid Conclusions
Several local authorities urged communities not to spread unverified claims while investigations continue.
Security personnel similarly emphasized that early assumptions may increase fear among civilians already living under difficult conditions.
Their message remained consistent.
Report incidents.
Avoid speculation.
Wait for confirmation.
Security Challenges Continue Affecting Development
The incidents also revived older questions surrounding development.
Can infrastructure expansion continue effectively when security risks remain?
Papua continues receiving investment for schools, roads, healthcare facilities, and economic projects.
Yet recurring violence creates additional burdens.
Communities rebuilding infrastructure repeatedly face costs extending beyond construction.
People begin adjusting routines.
Travel changes.
Public confidence becomes affected.
Communities Now Focus On Recovery
In Waghete, discussions increasingly turned practical.
Temporary classrooms.
Replacement equipment.
Rebuilding schedules.
In Manggelum, residents discussed damaged homes and security concerns.
Political arguments continued elsewhere.
Local communities focused instead on daily realities.
Children still need classrooms.
Families still need houses.
Life still continues.
Conclusion
The fires in Deiyai and Boven Digoel occurred in different districts separated by large distances.
Yet they produced similar scenes.
Burned buildings.
Confused residents.
Children standing outside damaged schools.
Investigations continue.
Competing claims continue.
Recovery efforts continue.
For communities closest to the incidents, however, the issue often feels simpler.
When classrooms disappear overnight, rebuilding walls may ultimately prove easier than rebuilding normal life.