27 Jan 2005

Reports that four Papuans killed by the Indonesian military

8:05 pm on 27 January 2005

There are reports that 4 people were killed by the Indonesian military in Patawai Village in the province of Papua a week ago.

The four men were shot to death as they were on their way to work.

It is claimed by Papuan pro-independence activists that the military were dressed in civilian clothes and carrying machine guns during the attack.

They say they burnt down houses, destroying the Papuans village near Nabire.

The incident took place after the local Papuan community demanded that their land rights to the area be respected after the province's administration used force to set up a new government district.