Indonesian forces to blame for Papua killings, says Amnesty

JAKARTA: Indonesian security forces are behind the unlawful killing of at least 95 people in Papua since 2010, with most perpetrators never held to account, Amnesty International said in a new report yesterday.

Papua, on the western half of New Guinea island, has been the scene of a simmering independence insurgency since it was annexed by Indonesia in the late 1960s.

Political activists and demonstrators peacefully protesting the government were among those killed in recent violence, as well as residents involved in non-political gatherings in Indonesia’s easternmost province, the rights group said.

Not one case has been subject to an independent criminal investigation, according to Amnesty, which said it spent two years interviewing victims’ families, witnesses, rights organisations, political activists and church-based community groups.

“Papua is one of Indonesia’s black holes for human rights. This is a region where security forces have for years been allowed to kill women, men and children, with no prospects of being held to account,” Amnesty Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said.

“This culture of impunity within the security forces must change, and those responsible for past deaths held to account.”

Muhammad Aidi, the army’s spokesman for Papua province, said the allegations of unlawful killings and excessive force by security forces were inaccurate.

“Anything done by the army or police in Papua – as well as throughout Indonesia – must be legal (and) must follow legal process,” he said. – AFP