INDONESIA: Authoritarian style show of force at Third Papuan People's Congress

(Hong Kong, Jayapura, October 19, 2011) About 100 TNI soldiers and several members of the mobile brigade of the police (BRIMOB) are reported to have approached closer to the location where the Third Papuan People's Congress in Jayapura, Papua is currently being held. The organisers fear that the mass violence frequently perpetrated by the armed forces and police may be repeated in this event.

Some journalists are reported to have been blocked from accessing the area and reporting on the event.

The West Papua National Committee called for this Third Papuan People's Congress and one of the aims of the Congress is to select a new leadership.

"This heavy and disproportional deployment of force is a threat to the security of a peaceful gathering of indigenous Papuan people," said Wong Kai Shing, Executive Director of the Asian Human Rights Commission. He went on to say, "It is the duty of the Indonesian authorities to protect their right to freedom of expression and assembly and to refrain from causing any intimidations or making threats." Read more>>INDONESIA: Authoritarian style show of force at Third Papuan People's Congress — Asian Human Rights Commission