16 Feb 2015

Probe intensifies into W Papua Paniai killings

12:32 pm on 16 February 2015

Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights, or Komnas HAM, is intensifying its investigation into alleged human rights violations in last year's Paniai incident in Papua.

Five protestors were killed and at least 17 injured in the December incident in which security forces opened fire on 800 protestors.

They were demonstrating against alleged abuse by authorities in a previous altercation between police and teenagers.

The Jakarta Globe reports the human rights group says it will interview locals, victims, Papuan public figures and security forces.

It says there will also be a re-enactment of the event.

The Komnas HAM team also plans to collect additional evidence of alleged human rights violations, according to the newspaper.

In December the watchdog's deputy Asia director Phelim Kine said the Papua inquiry had been stymied because civilian investigators couldn't interview the soldiers who were at the scene.

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