22 Oct 2010

International lawyers group calls for Indonesia to act over Papua torture

7:38 pm on 22 October 2010

An international lawyers organisation says it hopes Indonesia will identify and punish those responsible for the torture of two Papuan men which was caught on video.

The video appears to show Indonesian security forces applying a smouldering a stick to one man's genitals and threatening to shoot him in the mouth.

International Lawyers for West Papua is calling for the authorities to locate the victims in the video, and to provide care and compensation for them.

The group's chair Melinda Janki says it will have to see whether an investigation by Indonesian authorities finds and deals with the culprits

"International lawyers around the world would welcome a very clear demonstration from Indonesia that they do take international law seriously, that they will stop torture in their territory and they will punish those who have carried out acts of torture."

Melinda Janki says the international community must recognise Papua's right to self-determination, and Indonesian troops should withdraw from the province.