RNZ Pacific has contacted the Indonesian government for comment. Photo: RNZI
West Papua solidarity groups in Aotearoa are calling on the New Zealand government to register its concerns with Indonesia in light of a disturbing video showing security authorities in Papua torturing a civilian.
In the video - which has been viewed by RNZ Pacific - an indigenous Papuan man with his hands tied behind his back has been placed in an open fuel drum filled with water.
The graphic clip shows the man is being violently kicked, punched, sliced and poked with a knife by a group of men some of whom are wearing Indonesian military uniforms, and the blood causing the water to turn red.
The leader of the Free West Papua Movement, Benny Wenda, said the video has emerged from the Yahukimo regency in Highland Papua.
West Papua Action Aotearoa spokesperson Catherine Delahunty said New Zealand must speak out against ongoing human rights abuses in Papua.
"Well we are calling on the New Zealand government to speak up about this," she said.
"The very least they can do is to challenge Indonesia about this incident and its context which is the ongoing state military violence against civilians."
Delahunty is also calling on the New Zealand government to restate a commitment [by Indonesia] to the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner visit to West Papua that was agreed by the Pacific Islands Forum.
RNZ Pacific has contacted the Indonesian government for comment.
