23 Aug 2007

Mysterious Papuan deaths worry NGO

1:40 pm on 23 August 2007

The NGO, The Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, has expressed concern over what it calls mysterious killings in the Indonesian province.

It says new information from Nabire suggests that the Indonesian security forces have moved to increase the intimidation of the Papuan community by engaging in a campaign of extra-judicial killing and torture.

The group says statements from senior military commanders to repress political descent coincides with a deteriorating of the human rights environment in Papua.

It says this comes just days after the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said he would not tolerate separatism or any interference that would slow down the development of Papua province.