ABC AUSTRALIA, 03/09/2004 23:01:24
Rights organisation identifies abuses by Indonesian forces in
Papua
A human rights organisation in Indonesia says security forces have carried out gross
human rights abuses, including murder, torture and arbitrary arrests in the eastern
province of Papua.
The Indonesian National Human Rights Commission says two incidents in June 2001
and April 2003 in Papua, where rebels have been waging a separatist campaign, gave
the troops a pretext to launch a violent crackdown.
The group's Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara says the commission found "preliminary
evidence that murder, torture and arrests" were carried out by military troops and
police.
The 2001 incident in the Papuan district of Wasior stemmed from the killings of five
elite police paramilitary personnel by unknown attackers during a raid on a base camp
of a private firm in the area.
Police carrying out a manhunt after the attack killed at least one civilian they accused
of involvement.
The 2003 case in Wamena district occurred after a raid on a military armoury by
gunmen who made off with some 29 grenades and thousands of rounds of
ammunition.
The military, who had accused the rebel Free Papua Movement of carrying out the
raid, deployed troops who allegedly tortured and arrested civilians and carried out
arson in the area.
Mr Nusantara says his commission will submit its findings to the attorney general's
office for "further investigation and legal process" by state prosecutors.
03/09/2004 23:01:24 | ABC Radio Australia News
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