8 Dec 2015

Jakarta urged to ensure Paniai deaths are probed

9:07 pm on 8 December 2015

On the first anniversary of the violent deaths of four West Papuans in Paniai, Indonesia's government has been urged to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Residents tending to victims after a shooting in Enarotali, Paniai Regency in Indonesia's Papua province. At least four teenagers were shot dead in clashes with security forces, authorities said, although rights campaigners accused police of opening fire on protesters.

This handout photo taken on December 8, 2014 and released by Indonesian Human Rights Watch shows residents tending to victims after a shooting in Enarotali, Paniai Regency in Indonesia's Papua province. Photo: AFP Indonesian Human Rights Watch

The incident in Enarotali of Papua province's Paniai regency left four teenagers dead and 17 others injured after Indonesian police and military forces opened fire on a peaceful protest.

The crowd had gathered to protest about soldiers assaulting a child the previous day.

Following the incident, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo publicly committed to solving the case.

The National Human Rights Commission established a team to investigate which after four months work found evidence of gross rights violations and recommended a more detailed investigation.

However, the investigation has stalled, and internal probes by police and military are yet to be made public.

Amnesty International and Indonesia's Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence have urged the government to ensure that the perpetrators of the deaths are brought to justice.

They say the government must take steps to ensure that the rights Commission is provided with necessary funds to complete its investigations and ensure all findings are made public.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs