By Joseph Juhn
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
JAKARTA, Indonesia – A video was posted on YouTube that showed two Papuan civilians being abused by the Indonesian security forces.
Soon after, Indonesian police said they would investigate reports of torture in restive Papua province, where the video was believed to have been filmed.
In the video, which was released on YouTube last week showed unknown interrogates questioning two Papuan men about the whereabouts of a weapons cache as they burned one of the men’s genitals and threatened to shoot him in the mouth.
The same video also shows another Papuan suspect being threatened with a knife.
The Indonesian security forces has long been accused of widespread abuse and torture against civilians in Papua, where a low-level separatist insurgency has been simmering for decades.
When questioned about this incident, Marwoto Soeto, national police spokesman responded that he will investigate and find out what’s going on.
“We’ll also find out who recorded the video and spread it. If police are involved, we will take firm action,” he added.
Another Police Spokesman, Wachyono, in Papua, raised the possibility that the video was made as an an attempt to discredit the police force, which is known to torture and abuse detainees of all kinds, including women and those held on minor charges.
“I’m afraid this video could have been made up to discredit police or the military. The people making the video could be an armed gang,” he said.
However, he promised to take firm action if it is indeed proved that the police was involved with human rights violations.
US-based Human Rights Watch says Indonesian forces have pursued brutal and indiscriminate sweeps on villages in Papua, sometimes killing civilians, and imprisoned peaceful political activists.
“For us, it’s an old song,” said Forkorus Yabuisembut, a pro-independence activist. “The types of abuses carried by security forces are so far beyond humane … nothing has changed.”
Human rights groups suspect that more than 100,000 people – a fifth of the impoverished province’s population – have died as result of military action.
For more information, please see:
Radio New Zealand – Indonesian security forces accused of torture of Papuans after YouTube posting – 18 October 2010
AFT – YouTube video shows Indonesian security forces torturing Papuanss – 18 October 2010
News Observer – Video shows Indonesian troops torture Papuans – 18 October 2010
