Human rights still lacking in Papua

24 May 2012, 3:55 pm   -   Source: AAP

Indonesia is facing fresh criticism over its human rights record following a year of continued unrest in Papua.

Indonesia is facing fresh criticism over its human rights record following a year of continued unrest and the jailing of leading political activists in Papua.

In its annual report on the state of human rights around the world, Amnesty International has also criticised the Indonesian government over what it described as an inadequate response to persistent attacks on religious minorities.

But the report reserved its heaviest criticism for allegations of torture and unnecessary use of excessive force by the military, especially in the restive provinces of Papua and Maluku.

It points to a raft of violations in Papua in 2011, including in October when security forces opened fire on participants at an independence rally in the town of Abepura, after which three people were found dead.

"In most cases of violence by the security forces, including during the Freeport strike and the Third Papuan Peoples' Congress in October, no one has yet been held accountable, perpetuating a climate of impunity in Papua," Amnesty spokesman Josef Benedict said.

Amnesty International lodged a request in January seeking access to Papua but is yet to receive a response from the Indonesian government.

Foreign journalists and non-government organisations are effectively barred from entering the province.

More than 300 people were arrested while video of the aftermath of the rally in Abepura showed police beating unarmed protesters, including children.

Five Papuan leaders were later charged with treason and sentenced to three years in prison after declaring the province's independence at the rally.

The report also raises questions over the failure of authorities to investigate allegations of torture of 21 political activists in Maluku by officers from Densus 88, a counter-terrorism unit which receives funding and training from Australia.

It said that at least 90 political activists in Papua and Maluku had been imprisoned last year for their peaceful political activities.

The Amnesty International report was released as Indonesia was preparing to deliver its own assessment of its human rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Council headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, later in the day.

Speaking before handing over the report, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said Indonesia had made significant progress in addressing human rights.

However, he said issues of "inter-faith tolerance have become of great importance in Indonesia's diplomacy in bilateral and multilateral forums".

"We must resolve these incidents, otherwise the international community will get the wrong picture about Indonesia," Dr Natalegawa said.

The matter was thrown into the spotlight in February last year when three members of the minority Ahmadiyya Muslim sect were stoned to death in a village in West Java by a rampaging mob of 1500 people.

By the end of 2011, at least 18 Christian churches had also been either attacked or forced to close.

"In many cases, the police failed to protect religious and other minority groups from such attacks," Amnesty International said.

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