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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Human Rights group criticizes Indonesia

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesian security forces killed and beat unarmed civilians and on two occasions raped women during recent operations against separatists in Papua province, Human Rights Watch alleged in a report released today.

The national police chief denied any abuses occur in the isolated region, where mistrust between indigenous people and government forces is high after years of bloody military crackdowns.

“The police have undertaken many reforms. The human rights situation in Papua is getting better,” said Gen. Sutanto, who like many people in this country, goes by a single name.

The allegations of abuse are based on interviews with alleged victims and witnesses, New York-based Human Rights Watch said.

The group’s report detailed eight alleged killings by police and military officers in the province since 2005 and several vicious beatings.

Human Rights Watch also recorded two cases of rape – one of a 16-year-old girl by a soldier and another of a married woman by police who accused her of supplying food for the rebels.

The group said only one low-ranking soldier, who received an eight-month prison term for killing a 16-year-old boy, faced prosecution in any of the abuses.