By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

JAKARTA, Indonesia– More than two dozen reports of torture and beatings by guards at Abepura prison have been reported.  This prison, located in the largest Indonesian province, holds more than 200 inmates, some of whom have been jailed for peaceful political protests.

Reported cases of abuse included an inmate who was hit on the head multiple times by a rubber club and eventually lost an eye when the guards poked his eye with a key, as well as an inmate who was beaten so severely that bleeding in one ear led to hearing loss.  There has also been a report of guards forcing inmates to hold boiling water in their hands.

Indonesian inmate and guards (Source: AP)

The Papua Province is tightly controlled by Indonesian security forces and intelligence agencies.  Indonesian government also bars foreign human rights groups and journalists from entering Papua and conducting research in fear of political unrest.

However, Asia Director of Human Rights Watch Brad Adams said, “”How can the government turn a blind eye to beatings and torture in one of its prisons?  Jakarta needs to put an end to this disgraceful behavior, punish those responsible, and start keeping a close eye on what is happening there.”

Indonesia does have a law stipulating procedures to be taken in the event a mistreatment occurs in prison.  For example, victims can report the abuse to the provincial office of the Ministry of Law and bring a criminal action.  Despite this law, however, victims and families have stopped reporting the abuse cases, because no action is ever taken by the government.

Human Rights Watch is urging Indonesian authorities to investigate and hold those responsible for such brutality accountable, in addition to requesting that Indonesia open the prison to international monitoring.

For more information, please see:

ABC News – Papua prison abuse rampant: report – 5 June 2009

Human Rights Watch – Indonesia: Stop Prison Brutality in Papua – 4 June 2009

Island Business – Jakarta accused over West Papua prison – 5 June 2009

The Jakarta Post – Indonesia told to stop prison brutality in Papua – 5 June 2009