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Government urged to stop using excessive force in Papua
Jakarta Post - December 10, 2014
Human Rights Watch (HRW) said it had documented hundreds of cases in which the Indonesian police, military, intelligence officers and prison guards had used unnecessary or excessive force when dealing with Papuans taking part in protests.
"While a handful of military tribunals have been held in Papua to try security force personnel implicated in abuse, the charges have been inadequate and soldiers who committed the abuse continue to serve in the military," HRW deputy Asia director Phelim Kine said in a release made available to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
She made the comments in response to the apparent use of lethal force by security personnel against peaceful protesters in Papua on Dec. 8, in which five civilians died from gunshot wounds.
The HRW says that based on the United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, which set out an international law on the use of the force in law enforcement situations, security forces should, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force.
"Whenever the lawful use of force is unavoidable, the authorities should use restraint and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense," the group said.
"Lethal force may only be used when strictly unavoidable to protect life. Governments shall ensure that arbitrary or abusive use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials is punished as a criminal offense."
Tensions have continued to heighten in Papua following an attack on Indonesian military forces by suspected members of the armed separatist Free Papua Movement on Feb. 21, 2013. The attack resulted in the deaths of eight soldiers, the worst attack in the region in more than 15 years.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo pledged to lift punitive restrictions on international access to Papua. During an election campaign on June 5, Jokowi was asked by local residents whether, as President, he would open access to Papua for foreign journalists and international organizations.
"Why not? It's safe here in Papua. There's nothing to hide," he replied. "The President has yet to lift the access restriction," said Kine. (ebf)
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