A senior Indonesian police officer has been acquitted of committing crimes against humanity in connection with the arrests of dozens of Papuans.
Brigadier General Johny Wainal Usman was found not guilty of committing crimes against humanity in connection with the arbitrary arrests of dozens of Papuan residents in December 2000.
Suspected Free Papua Movement rebels attacked the police station in Abepura near the regional capital, Jayapura.
Police responded by launching a manhunt which left three Papuans dead, and about a hundred others arrested.
Seventeen activists have been on hunger strike outside the courthouse this week, hoping the Brigadier General would be found guilty.
In other developments, about 500 people held a march in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, yesterday, to push government to solve the murder of Munir, the renowned activist for human rights in Papua.
