Indonesia: Independent Investigation Needed Into Papua Violence

Ensure Proper Treatment of Detainees

Human Rights Watch, October 28, 2011

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  Police arrest attendees of the Third Papuan People Congress in Jayapura, Indonesia’s Papua province on October 19, 2011.
  © 2011 Reuters

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  Armed security forces atop one of several armored personnel carriers surrounding Zaccheus field in Abepura on the morning of October 19, 2011.
  © 2011 Oktovianus Pogau/Pantau Foundation

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Papuans peacefully calling for independence does not justify a deadly crackdown. President Yudhoyono has an opportunity to show Papuans that he’s concerned about their rights by seriously investigating these deaths.

 

Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch

 

(New York) – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should immediately establish an independent investigation into the deaths of at least three protesters and the ongoing violence in Papua, Human Rights Watch said today.

On October 19, 2011, Indonesian police and the army fired warning shots to disperse approximately 1,000 Papuans gathered for a peaceful pro-independence demonstration in the Papua provincial capital, Jayapura, after one of the leaders read out the 1961 Papua Declaration of Independence. In an ensuing crackdown by the security forces on the demonstrators, at least three people were killed and dozens were injured. Witnesses said several had gunshot wounds.

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