13 Jun 2014

UN Human Rights session hears of Papua deterioration

4:14 pm on 13 June 2014

The United Nations Human Rights Council's current session has heard concerns that freedom of expression and peaceful assembly continue to deteriorate in Indonesia's Papua region.

The International Coalition for Papua says in the last year, the number of political arrests has more than doubled, while the number of reported cases of torture and ill treatment of detainees has quadrupled.

Furthermore, it says an increasing number of detainees are denied access to lawyers and face unfair trials.

At the end of last month, there were reportedly at least 79 political prisoners in Papua.

There were also 20 reported cases of violence and intimidation against journalists last year - up twelve from the previous year.

Among the Coalition's recommendations, it urges Indonesia to review its policing policies in Papua and its training of security forces personnel to ensure that rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and the right not to be tortured and ill-treated, are respected.